World's second-largest diamond 'found in Botswana'

Nov 20, 2015- The world's second-largest gem quality diamond has been discovered in Botswana, the Lucara Diamond firm says.

The 1,111-carat stone was recovered from its Karowe mine, about 500km (300 miles) north of the capital, Gaborone.

It is the biggest diamond to be discovered in Botswana and the largest find in more than a century.

The 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are in the British Crown Jewels.

"The significance of the recovery of a gem quality stone larger than 1,000 carats, the largest for more than a century... cannot be overstated," William Lamb, the CEO of Lucara Diamond, a Canadian diamond producer, said in a statement.

Lucara says two other "exceptional" white diamonds - an 813-carat stone and a 374-carat stone - were also found at the Karowe mine.

"This has been an amazing week for Lucara with the recovery of the second largest and also the sixth largest gem quality diamonds ever mined," Mr Lamb said.

The stone is yet to be evaluated, but commodities and mining analyst Kieron Hodgson, told AFP news agency that "the potential to be one very expensive diamond."

In April a flawless 100-carat diamond was sold for $22.1m (£14.8m) at Sotheby's in New York.

The gem, originally mined in South Africa, had taken more than a year to cut, polish and perfect.

Botswana is the world's largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation.

India wants seven amendments to Nepal’s constitution: Confidential document

Sep 23, 2015- The Indian government has asked the Nepali side to make seven amendments to the new constitution, according to an Indian Government classified report published by the Indian Express.

The India Ministry of External Affairs has said that the seven amendments are indispensable stating that these are the issues of concerns raised by the disgruntled Madhesi and Tharu groups. 

The amendments wanted by the South bloc have been forwarded to Nepali leadership via Indian ambassador Ranjit Rae. Rae, who had flown into New Delhi on Monday a day after the promulgation of the new constution, returned to Kathmandu on Wednesday and he headed straight to Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar to convey the message from New Delhi.

Amendment 1
India wants the electoral constituencies in Madhes to be based on population. The Article 63 (3) of the Interim Constitution states that the electoral constituencies will be based on population, geography and special characteristics,“ and in the case of Madhes on the basis of percentage of population.” The latter phrase, however, has been omitted from Article 84 of the new constitution. India wants it re-inserted. 
Amendment 2
India wants the word ‘proportional’ be inserted in the Article 42 of the new constitution. The article states that “the right to participate in state structures on the basis of principles of inclusion”. The Article 21 of the Interim constitution, however, mentioned that various groups would have “the right to participate in state structures on the basis of principles of proportional inclusion”. The word ‘proportional’ has been dropped from the Article 42 of the new constitution. India has asked the word to be reinstated.
Amendment 3
The amendment three is on the Article 283 regarding the special provisions relating to Citizenship of the office-bearers. The article states that the only those who have a citizenship by descent will be entitled to the position of president, vice president, PM, chief justice, speaker of the parliament, chairperson of National Assembly, head of the province, chief minister, speaker of provincial assembly and chief of security bodies. 
Delhi says this should be amended to include citizenship by birth or naturalisation as a large number of Madhesis have acquired citizenship by birth or naturalisation.
Amendment 4
India wants representation in the National Assembly to be based on the population of the provinces. But the Article 86 of the new Constitution states that National Assembly will comprise 8 members from each of seven states and three nominated members. 
Amendment 5
The five disputed districts—Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kanchanpur and Kailali—be included in Madhes provinces. These districts are currently in province one (Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari) and province six (Kailali, Kanchanpur) along with hilly and mountainous districts.
Amendment 6
The article 281 (12) states that the delineation of electoral constituencies shall be put to review in every 20 years. It was to be reviewed on every 10 years in the interim constitution. India wants this time to be restored to 10 years.
Amendment 7
The Article 11 (6) states that a foreign woman married to a Nepali citizen may acquire naturalised citizenship of Nepal as provided for in a federal law. Madhesi parties want acquisition of naturalised citizenship to be automatic on application. This also finds favour with Delhi.

Barrymore wants to change 'everything' about her

Sep 4, 2015- Actress Drew Barrymore says she wishes she could change "everything" about her past, but appreciates that her history makes her who she is today.

Asked what she would like to change about her past, Barrymore said: "Probably everything, but if you're happy with your life today, you have to be appreciative of every single moment that led you to get here."

The 39-year-old actress feels "lucky" she has had her "experimental phase" rather than today as the world is "much worse" now, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"Most people go through an experimental phase in their lives, but it isn't public. I had to learn a lot of lessons on my own. But I was never a bad person, I never f***ed anyone over. I feel very lucky that it happened then. This is a much worse world to go through anything now. I'm like a quiet, boring church mouse now," she said.

Barrymore said people approach her with a sense of familiarity because she has grown up in the public eye.

"I'm Norm from 'Cheers'. I walk into a place and everyone says, 'Hi Norm'. It's just what my life is," she told Red magazine.

Published: 04-09-2015 12:27

Matt Damon wants to go to Mars

AP Photo

Sep 30, 2015- "The Martian" actor Matt Damon has joked he wants to go to Mars to escape the everyday stresses of family life.

"It's funny because in my life I'm rarely by myself. With four kids I could use some time alone on Mars,” Damon, who plays an astronaut in the new Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi movie, told telegraph.co.uk.

Despite being among the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Damon said his stable family life means he finds it easy to escape the attention of the paparazzi cameras and fans.

“I'm a married man with kids and there's no scandal about me,” the 44-year-old, who has four daughters with his Argentine wife Luciana Barroso - stepdaughter Alexia, 17, and Isabella, nine, Gia, six, and five-year-old Stella, said.

“So long as the photographers get an updated picture every six months, they're okay.

"A picture of us isn't as valuable as a picture of somebody who may cause some scandal and I don't think I've done anything to create any mystique around myself,” he added.

Protest rally against Indian interference, blockade

Oct 1, 2015- A protest rally in coordination of Chitwan chapter of Chamber and Commerce was organised against the Indian interference at Narayangadh on Thursday.

Thousands of people from various sectors of life and business participated in today’s rally against Indian interference and “undeclared blockade’.

The rally started from Chitwan chapter of Chamber and Commerce premises and moved towards Pulchowk, Sahid Chowk, Lions Chowk before converging into a corner meet at Chaubis Kothi in Bharatpur.

AL Indian Commerce Minister assures to draw Modi’s attention to Nepal crisis

Sep 30, 2015- Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman has said that she would draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi about crisis in Nepal due to the halt in the export of petroleum products and other daily essentials from India.     

Minister of Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa, who is in Indian Capital New Delhi for the past few days to attend South Asia Economic Conclave meeting, notified his Indian counterpart Sitharaman about problems that surfaced in Nepal, during a meeting at Udyog Bhawan on Wednesday. “I notified my counterpart about the problems caused by halt in imports and supplies and its possible long-term impacts on Nepal-India relations,” Minister Thapa told the Post.     

Minister Sitharaman assured her Nepali counterpart that he would meet PM Modi at the earliest and inform him about the problems in Nepal.

Thapa has also been taking initiatives to arrange meetings with Indian Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Indian Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley. 

Earlier, Minister Thapa met Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and informed about the crisis in Nepal due to shortage of essential supplies following blockade from India.  

“Immediate solution to the week-long crisis in supply caused by unofficial blockade is not likely to end anytime soon unless India’s Central government takes any decision towards that end,” said a former Nepal’s ambassador to India, “The decision to use blockade over the political issues in Nepal is likely to embarrass India. We hope some positive decision regarding this by Thursday.

Syria crisis: Russia 'begins air strikes'

Sep 30, 2015-

Russia appears to have begun carrying out air strikes in Syria against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, a US defence official says.

The official said the strikes reportedly came in the area of the western city of Homs.

Washington was informed in advance that they were about to take place.

The US and its allies have insisted that President Assad should leave office, while Russia has backed its ally remaining in office.

Syria's civil war has raged for four years, with armed groups - some of them Islamist, including the Islamic State (IS) group - have been fighting to overthrow the government.

The latest developments came amid reports that President Assad had formally requested Russian military support.

Reports from Russia say the upper house of the Russian parliament granted President Vladimir Putin approval to deploy the Russian air force in Syria.

The US defence official said: "A Russian official in Baghdad this morning informed US embassy personnel that Russian military aircraft would begin flying anti-Isil [IS] missions today over Syria. He further requested that US aircraft avoid Syrian airspace during these missions.

"We've seen media reporting that has suggested Russian missions have begun."

The official declared a US-led coalition would continue to fly anti-IS missions over Iraq and Syria as planned, and expressed criticism of Russia's move.

"While we would welcome a constructive role by Russia in this effort, today's demarche hardly seems indicative of that sort of role and will in no way alter our operations."