1913 painting by Adolf Hitler sells for $40,000

A 1913 painting by Nazi Germany's dictator Adolf Hitler sold for 32,000 euros (A$39,635) in a Slovak internet auction on Sunday, the Darte auction house said.

The starting price for the painting titled Maritime Nocturno was set at 10,000 euros (A$12,386), while an expert put its value at 25,000 euros (A$30,965), said Darte, which sold the painting in a closed VIP auction.

The mixed-media painting depicts a full moon over a glittering seascape.

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India must shape up in order to compete economically with China

Simple facts of the two fastest growing economies of the world say, Chinese dragon is way ahead of Indian elephant in terms of their respective future economic growth. For India, the elephant needs to be winged to fly; she can not afford to wait for the evolution of a flying Elephant, writes Bishwajit Okram, Financial Controller, C&F Group, Ireland.

China will take over USA in 2018 as the world’s largest economy, says an economic game published in the December 31st edition of the Economist.

India is nowhere near the two; interestingly at the least, nowhere near China. The economic barometer is pointing towards a Chinese economic world no later than 2020.

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Protests against Ahmedis in Rawalpindi

A large number of local activists from different religious parties gathered near a local hospital to urge the government to stop what they called the ‘unconstitutional activities’ of Ahmedis in Rawalpindi.

Arranged by trading associations,the protest was attended by activists from Jamaat-ud-Dawa,Jamat-e-Islami,Sipah-e-Sahaba and Ahl-e-Sunnat Jammat. The protest was headed by Sharjeel Mir and Shahid Gafoor Paracha. Over 5,000 people attended the rally.

Those who spoke at the gathering urged Ahmedis to stop their religious activities,which include preaching and worshipping in the area.

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SC extends Memo Commission deadline by 2 months

The Supreme Court has extended the Memogate commission’s deadline for two more months as Mansoor Ijaz failed to appear before the commission to record his statements, Express News reported on Monday.

The court was hearing an application filed by the judicial commission, which sought the extension of the deadline to complete the probe.

The court accepted the application and said that it was up to the commission whether it wants to go abroad to record Ijaz’s statements or call him to Pakistan.

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Pakistan’s Security and Protocol Gilt Attack

Government officials and people in key high powered positions all over the world have the carte blanche to security and protocol. The sheer size and grandeur of the Saudi King’s posse and motorcade for example,puts any semblance of showmanship anywhere else to sad sorry shame.

Recently Obama received a lot of backlash for bowing to King Abdullah and his wife Michele was criticized for patting the queen on the back. The tacit Debretts Peerage of the modern world still caters to the eccentricities of the rich and famous;with VVIP protocol now being extended to politicians even in airspace.

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India’s 63rd Republic Day parade

An impressive display of armour and unmanned aerial vehicles recently added to India’s military prowess was on full display at the 63rd Republic Day parade on Thursday that also showcased the country’s rich heritage.

The early morning chill did not deter people along the 8-km-parade route as they gathered on both sides of the majestic Rajpath, the country’s ceremonial boulevard facing the Raisina Hills, and cheered the contingents as they went past portraying the diverse culture of the country.

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Manufacturing and Import of Medicines is the Federal Govts responsibility: CM Shahbaz

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that more than 100 heart patients had died in and out of various hospitals from reactions to a dubious drug distributed by the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), outlining the scope of the catastrophe, now in its fifth day, that has caused widespread panic. In a strange move, the chief minister revealed figures that were a lot more than the ones reported to the media by the Health Department. Shahbaz told reporters after a meeting held to review the measures taken to overcome the situation that the drug samples had been sent to drug testing laboratories in Britain and France through two responsible people and action would be taken upon receiving the lab reports. 

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Syria allows one month extension to Arab League Observer

DAMASCUS - Syria has agreed to extend a widely criticised Arab League observer mission for a second month, just hours after launching an angry tirade against the bloc’s efforts to mediate in the crisis.

League officials had warned that the monitors, already depleted by the withdrawal of the six oil-rich Gulf states from the mission, would be confined to base from Wednesday if Syria’s agreement was not forthcoming.

‘Foreign Minister Walid Muallem sent a letter tonight to the secretary general of the Arab League (Nabil Al Arabi) informing him of the Syrian government’s agreement to extend the observer mission for one month, from January 24 until February 23, 2012,’ said a statement carried by the official SANA news agency on Tuesday.

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The 10 Most Expensive Books in the World

The astonishing prices people will pay to own a piece of human history

On Friday, Christie's New York auctioned a copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America, which already holds the title of most valuable printed book in the world, having sold for about $11.5 million in 2010. In fact, according to The Economist, a true list of the ten most valuable single books ever sold would have to include five copies of The Birds of America. Though Friday's sale didn't break the record, the book still sold for a considerable sum: $7.9 million.

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Australian Ambassador says his government keen on investing in Pakistan’s energy sector

Austrian Ambassador Axel Wech has said that his country was keen to invest in the hydel power and alternative energy development projects.

Besides, he also offered technical assistance in hydropower generation to address Pakistan crippling energy crisis.

Flanked by deputy head of Austrian mission Martin Thelen, he was talking to newsmen here on Monday after visiting Taxila Museum.

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