BA airhostess ‘raped after being driven into Dubai desert’

LONDON – According to a court hearing, a British Airways airhostess was driven into a Dubai desert in a car, and raped afterwards.

The 25-year-old stewardess left her sister in a nightclub, looking for a taxi. But she agreed to be driven home …. Source article  : BA airhostess ‘raped after being driven into Dubai desert’.

Taliban insurgents launch attack as Afghan peace conference starts

Militants attack as Afghan peace conference starts

KABUL, Afghanistan – Taliban suicide attackers launched an assault on a national peace conference as it opened Wednesday in the Afghan capital, sparking gunbattles outside the venue. Two attackers were killed and one captured but no delegates were hurt, an official said.
The attack, reportedly including rocket fire, started within … Original source on Gaea Times at : Taliban insurgents launch attack as Afghan peace conference starts.

Flotilla raid: US trying to placate Turkey without condemning Israel

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is trying to placate an outraged Turkish government while refusing to condemn Israel for its deadly raid on a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza.

According to the New York Times, President Obama telephoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip … Read more : Flotilla raid: US trying to placate Turkey without condemning Israel.

Melting ice making Mt Everest climb dangerous: Sherpas

LONDON – Sherpas have warned that the fast receding ice cover on Mt Everest is making scaling the mountain very risky, as the melting ice was exposing bare rock faces, conditions that were extremely hard to negotiate.

The climb …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Safdarjung Hospital medicos strike continues

NEW DELHI – The medicos strike at the Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital spilled over to the second day on Wednesday.

The medicos also blocked the Out Patients Department (OPD), stalling all services. pping their demands, the striking students now want that Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad …. Original source  : Safdarjung Hospital medicos strike continues.

Corruption in Pak worth staggering Rs 223 billion in 2010: Transparency International

KARACHI – Corruption has evolved as one of the major concerns for the Pakistan government , with a report of Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) revealing that a whopping 223 billion rupees were expended in …. Source article  : Corruption in Pak worth staggering Rs 223 billion in 2010: Transparency International.

US opens criminal probe into Gulf of Mexico oil spill

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration said Tuesday that it had begun civil and criminal investigations into the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The New York Times quoted Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. as saying in New Orleans that he planned to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US opens criminal probe into Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Sri Lanka slams UN Human Rights chief’s call for war crime inquest

LONDON – Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris has severely censured UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay, for persistently raking up the issue of an international inquest into alleged war-crimes committed by both the security forces and the LTTE during their … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sri Lanka slams UN Human Rights chief’s call for war crime inquest.

Hyderabad mango show has hundreds of verities on display

HYDERABAD – Mango-lovers and exporters of the fruit thronged the mega mango show, showcasing scores of varieties of the fruit, in Hyderabad.

The three-day exhibition, organised by the National Board of Horticulture, began on Sunday.

Hundreds of verities mangoes were on display … Original article on : Hyderabad mango show has hundreds of verities on display.

Gaza flotilla attack: Three Pakistanis to return home Wednesday

ISLAMABAD – Three Pakistanis, including prominent TV anchor Talat Hussain, detained after Israeli commandos stormed a Gaza aid flotilla, are likely to return home Wednesday, an official said.

“The three Pakistanis will fly to Islamabad from Amman on Wednesday,” Dawn quoted a spokesman for the interior ministry as saying.
On Tuesday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said …. Source article  : Gaza flotilla attack: Three Pakistanis to return home Wednesday.

Shahzad a ‘Hybrid Terrorist’, who worked alone but got inspiration from Pak Taliban

WASHINGTON – As the US agencies continue their investigations to probe the failed Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad’s links with Pakistani extremist groups, indications are that he is a “hybrid terrorist”, who worked alone but derived inspiration from the Pakistan Taliban.

According …. Original article  : Shahzad a ‘Hybrid Terrorist’, who worked alone but got inspiration from Pak Taliban.

Prudential says it is terminating agreement to take over AIG’s Asian unit AIA

Prudential gives up on $35.3 billion AIA deal

LONDON – Prudential PLC has accepted defeat in its ambitious plan to acquire Asian insurance company AIA from U.S. insurance company AIG.
Prudential said Wednesday that it is negotiating with AIG about terminating the $35.3 billion deal, which faltered because of resistance of Prudential shareholders to the high price, …. Read the original article  : Prudential says it is terminating agreement to take over AIG’s Asian unit AIA.

The details on AT&T’s 2 new smart phone data plans

AT&T’s new smart phone data plans
Starting Monday, AT&T Inc. is replacing its current data plan with two new ones:

- The current plan provides unlimited data usage for $30 per month. If you’re a current customer, you can keep it.
- A new plan called DataPlus will provide 200 megabytes of data for $15 per month. If [..] Read the original article: here.

Cartoon in Chinese newspaper reminds some of Tiananmen crackdown, then is taken down

China cartoon brings reminder of Tiananmen, erased

BEIJING – A cartoon some Chinese say refers to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown has been removed from the website of one of China’s most assertive newspapers, just two days before the crackdown’s anniversary.
The Southern Metropolis Daily on Tuesday published a series of cartoons for International Children’s Day. One …. Source  : Cartoon in Chinese newspaper reminds some of Tiananmen crackdown, then is taken down.

Police stations only in name in some Maoist areas: Chidambaram

RAIPUR – Police stations exist only in name in some districts most affected by left wing extremism, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Wednesday.

“The distribution of force among police stations is badly skewed, there are not enough police stations. Even where there is a police station, the strength of the force is often no more than … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Police stations only in name in some Maoist areas: Chidambaram.

Policing with ill-equipped police force difficult: Chidambaram

RAIPUR – Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday said policing a country of over 1.1 billion people in a troubled neighbourhood is difficult, especially if the nation has an ill-equipped police force.

“Policing a country of over 1.1 billion people is not an easy task. Policing a country in a troubled neighbourhood makes the task more difficult. …. Source article  : Policing with ill-equipped police force difficult: Chidambaram.

Pak terror factories to keep Qaeda potent despite death of no.3 Yazid: Experts

ISLAMABAD – The reported death of Al-Qaeda’s number three in command Mustafa Abu Yazid is certainly a setback for the terrorist organisation, but it would hardly have any effect on the continuing militancy in the region, particularly in Pakistan, experts have said.

Yazid, who is believed to be the financial manager of …. Source  : Pak terror factories to keep Qaeda potent despite death of no.3 Yazid: Experts.

Afghan opposition leader to boycott ‘peace jirga’, says its a PR exercise

LONDON – Former Afghan Foreign Minister and now Leader of the Opposition in the Afghan Parliament, Absullah Absullah has said he will boycott the much-hyped “peace jirga” of over 1600 tribal chieftains.

Abdullah dismissed the event as a mere ‘PR Exercise’ and has …. Read the original article  : here.

Brit mountaineer Kinloch dies after reaching Everest

LONDON – British mountaineer Peter Kinlooch died of frostbite and exhaustion in deteriorating weather hours after he achieved his life’s ambition of reaching the summit of Everest.

According to The Times, Kinloch, 28, appeared elated, taking photographs when he reached the 8,848m (29,029ft) summit, but was struck by … Read more >>>.

Bono, Bob Geldof unveil ‘Hurl Berl’ game targeting Berlusconi

LONDON – Anti-poverty campaigners Bono and Bob Geldof have unveiled an online game targeting Silvio Berlusconi – a hammer thrower in the game hurls the Italian Premier’s cartoon character into the air.he game is a sharp attack on Italy’s unfulfilled aid pledges to Africa.

Called “Hurl Berl”, the game allows … Read : Bono, Bob Geldof unveil ‘Hurl Berl’ game targeting Berlusconi.