Haitians pray, cry for help in the ruins

Prayers of thanksgiving and cries for help rose from Haiti’s huddled homeless Sunday, the sixth day of an epic humanitarian crisis that was straining the world’s ability to respond and igniting flare-ups of violence amid the rubble of Port-au-Prince.

Haitian police struggled to scatter hundreds of stone-throwing looters in the city’s Vieux Marche, or Old Market. Elsewhere downtown, amid the smoke from bonfires burning uncollected bodies, gunfire rang out and bands of machete-wielding young men roamed the streets, faces hidden by bandanas.

'Avatar' leads US box office for fifth weekend running

Washington’s new movie, the post-apocalyptic religious thriller “The Book of Eli”, held the second place at US cinemas, while “Avatar” continued its march in first place, according to Box Office Mojo.

Even the box office power of Denzel Washington can’t beat the phenomenon of “Avatar”.

Washington’s new movie, the post-apocalyptic religious thriller “c”, debuted with $31.6 million for second place at US cinemas, while “Avatar” continued its march in first place with an estimated $41.3 million, according to figures released by Box Office Mojo.

With an additional $125 million coming from international markets the most expensive movie of all time is now just $200 million short of the all-time box office record of $1.8 million held by “Titanic”.

Third place went to Peter Jackson’s thriller, “The Lovely Bones” with $17.5 million, followed by “Alvin” and the “Chipmunks: The Squeakquel”, ($11.5 million) and “Sherlock Holmes” ($9.8 million).

The other movies in the top 10 were “The Spy Next Door”, “It’s Complicated”, “Leap Year”, “The Blind Side” and “Up in the Air”.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Vice-President, Manmohan pay homage to Jyoti Basu

Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday paid tributes to Marxist legend Jyoti Basu, whom they described as a great patriot and an eminent statesman.

Both Mr. Ansari and Dr. Singh visited the AKG Bhawan, the CPI(M) Headquarters at Gole Market here, separately at around 11 a.m. and paid floral tribute to the departed leader.

They were received by CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Sitaram Yechury and K. Varadrajan.

Mr. Ansari wrote in the condolence book, “the country mourns the passing away of a patriot and a great statesman.”

Dr. Singh, in his remarks said the country has lost “a great son who was a great statesman and great patriot.”

“I convey my deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved family and countless admirers, comrades and followers of Shri Basu,” the Prime Minister said.

Another PTI story adds

Mourners throng Basu’s residence, party HQ to pay homage