Wishing you a very happy New Year !!!

Pastor Benny Hinn is a noted preacher, healing evangelist, and author. His worldwide ministry touches the lives of tens of millions of people, including millions of Indians, who watch his daily half-hour television program, “This is Your Day!” 5 days a week on global channels such as GOD TV, MiracleNet, TBN and other networks. His public meetings attract tens of thousands of people (his Mumbai meetings in Feb 2004 are estimated to have been attended by over 4 million people) in USA and abroad. Pastor Benny Hinn’s meetings are marked by outstanding and profoundly moving demonstrations of the power and love of God. At his open air meetings, people from a variety of nations, religious backgrounds and cultures have come into personal and direct contact with the Jesus of the Bible. As a result, thousands of lives have been transformed. Many physically, bust most of all spiritually. > more


Benny Hinn was born Toufik Benedictus Hinn in the coastal city of Jaffa in Israel in 1952. He was one of eight children born to an Armenian mother and a Greek father. The family was Greek Orthodox. In 1968, they emigrated to Canada settling in Toronto and Benny, who by this time was a young teenager, began attending Georges Vanier High school, north of Toronto. While at school, Benny befriended a group of religious students who introduced him to prayer meetings and teaching of the Gospel. Benny eventually became a Born Again Christian, despite concerns and initial opposition of his family. When he was 21, he attended a healing service in Pittsburgh headlined by evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman. She would become a major influence on his life, so much so, that he emulates her style to this day. Benny Hinn began his healing ministry in Toronto by hosting his own evangelical program on local television. His success in Canada inspired him to travel with his healing missions. In Orlando, Florida he met and married Suzanne, the daughter of a local pastor and it was there that Benny Hinn began to build his evangelical empire. > more

Saturday, January 1, 2005 (Port Blair): The several aftershocks that have been rocking Andaman and Nicobar Islands since last Sunday's earthquake have instilled a sense of mortal fear in the people, especially tourists, in Port Blair. Traumatised by the scale of the disaster and the frequent aftershocks, they have stopped sleeping indoors out of fear. "I still feel very scared. A little while ago, we felt a tremor. I don't get any sleep at night. I keep looking at God's picture," said one tourist. "Just as I try to sleep, a tremor comes. Anything can happen. At least this is an open place to sit in. I feel safer here," said another.

Opting for safety Many of the tourists here have either left or are anxiously waiting to leave Port Blair. Even though they're running up huge hotel bills as room tariffs in the islands range between Rs 800 to Rs 6,000, most people prefer sleeping outdoors. For them, a perfect holiday turned into a long nightmare the moment the killer waves swept across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. > more

                     

Mizoram to send bamboos for house reconstruction in islands:

[India News]: Port Blair, Jan 7 : The Andaman and Nicobar administration today requested Mizoram government for supplying bamboos required for reconstruction of houses in the islands which were washed out by the killer tsunami waves.

"The Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, has readily agreed when I requested him to provide bamboos," Lt Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar islands Ram Kapse told reporters here.

He said that bamboos would be brought to Kolkata from Mizoram and from there these would be transported to the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

With the Supreme Court allowing felling of trees, the forest corporation would provide timber required for house reconstruction. PTI

HC asks police to return online lottery terminals:

[India News]: Kolkata, Jan 7 : West Bengal government's drive against online lotteries received a jolt today with the Calcutta High Court directing the police authorities to return the online lottery terminals seized from some retailers after receiving an undertaking from them.

In an interim order, Justice Pinaki Ghose also directed the police shall not proceed further against the retailers subject to the fulfilment of the conditions that they would not conduct any single digit lottery, will use the logo of the state concerned on the tickets and will not hold more than one lottery in a week.

The state government launched a drive against the online lotteries for allegedly not adhering to the conditions provided in the Lotteries Act, 1998. Police seized hundreds of terminals during raids in different parts of the state last month.

The court directed that on receiving the undertaking from the retailers for fulfilment of the above conditions, the police authorities will return the articles seized from them.

The matter will come up for hearing on February nine, while the interim order will be in force till February 28.

M/S Encorp-e-Service Ltd and M/S T Senthil Kumar moved two writ applications and submitted before the court that they are authorised distributors of Mizoram and Meghalaya Online Lotteries. PTI

Movement of heavy vehicular traffic suspended:

[India News]: Silchar, Jan 6 : Movement of heavy vehicular traffic on the Badarpur-Shillong National Highway, the lifeline of Tripura-Mizoram-Barak valley of South Assam, has been suspended following damage of a bridge at Malidahar bordering Mehalaya.

Border Road Task Force (BRTF) sources here today said hundereds of goods-laden trucks from different parts of the country were stranded for the last two days on the Meghalaya side of NH 44. The trucks were on their onward journey to Tripura, Mizoram and Barak valley.

The BRTF was working round the clock on a war footing to construct an alternative bridge at Katigora.

Movement of light and heavy vehicle would be kept suspended on the section of the road from tomorrow for construction of the Bailey bridge.

Normal traffic on NH 44 was expected to resume from Saturday, the sources said. PTI

Meghalaya to contribute Rs 25 lakh for tsunami victims:

[World News]: Shillong, Jan 3 : The Meghalaya Government has decided to contribute Rs 25 lakh to the Prime minister's Relief Fund for the tsunami-affected people in the country, official sources said here today.

State Chief Minister D D Lapang had earlier spoken to his counterparts in the southern states affected by the disaster and expressed his deep sense of grief for the loss of lives.

Earlier, employees of the Shillong-based North-Eastern Council decided to contribute their one-day's salaries for the tsunami victims.

The tribal community of Jaintia hills in the state contributed Rs five lakh to the Prime minister's Relief Fund.

Mizoram Assembly Speaker Lalchamliana, Deputy Speaker C Lalrinsanga, and officers as well as employees of the Assembly secretariat donated one day's salaries for the tsunami victims.

In Aizawl, staff of the state secretariat handed over a Rs 55,000 cheque to Governor Kohli.

Mizoram Deputy Speaker said the government had formed a 14-member committee, including representatives of various departments and NGOs and were discussing mobilising help in the affected areas.

Peru Crowned Miss World 2004 : Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia of PERU was tonight crowned Miss World 2004 in a glittering ceremony held at Sanya's spectacular Beauty Crown Theatre.Maria, 20, looked absolutely resplendant in a blue evening gown as she was joyously crowned by Miss World 2003 Rosanna Davison. Anticipation grew when the world then decided who the final five contestants were.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PERU, PHILIPPINES, POLAND AND UNITED STATES.

A sensational medley was performed by Lionel Richie, when the megastar performed some of his best loved hits including 'Hello', 'Say You Say Me' and 'Three Times A Lady' to an ecstatic crowd. Relaxing in his dressing room backstage, he later commented, "These are really incredible women. Not only are the beautiful, they are smart, too. The world has had to make a tough decision.">more