NKorea threatens to increase punishment of detained American amid tensions over ship sinking

NKorea threatens more punishment for American

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has threatened to increase punishment for an American who was sentenced to hard labor for illegally entering the country.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday that North Korea is examining what harsher measures it would take against Aijalon Mahli Gomes in line … Read more »».

Kyrgyz authorities claim former president’s family colluded with Taliban to stir up violence

Kyrgyzstan: violence provoked by Islamic militants

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyzstan’s security agency claims relatives of the country’s toppled president have colluded with Taliban and other Islamic militant movements to provoke ethnic violence in the ex-Soviet nation.
It’s statement Thursday says former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s relatives met in Afghanistan last month with representatives of Taliban, the Islamic Movement …. Read the original article  : Kyrgyz authorities claim former president’s family colluded with Taliban to stir up violence.

Krishna says nothing spectacular expected from India-Pakistan talks

MUMBAI – External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has said that nothing spectacular was expected from the series of high-level talks with Pakistan due to the complexity of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Talking to reporters here after visiting ailing cartoonist R K Laxman who is undergoing treatment at Breach Candy Hospital, Krishna said: “I … Read more : Krishna says nothing spectacular expected from India-Pakistan talks.

Indian American Nikki Haley is a new GOP star on the rise

SOUTH CAROLINA – Indian-American state legislator from South Carolina Nikki Haley is being seen as a new GOP star, whose political fortunes are on the rise after a decisive landmark win in a primary runoff for governor Tuesday.

She defeated Representative Gresham Barrett (r) 65 percent to 35 percent, and now goes into a general election … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Indian American Nikki Haley is a new GOP star on the rise.

AXA of France sells some UK units to Resolution for 2.75 bln pounds ($4.1 bln)

AXA sells some UK units to Resolution
LONDON – British buyout fund Resolution Ltd. has agreed to acquire a package of U.K. businesses from French insurer AXA SA in a deal worth 2.75 billion pounds ($4.1 billion).

Resolution says it intends to merge the AXA businesses with another British insurance company, Friends Provident.
Resolution said Thursday it aims … Read more »».

As Russia resumes natural gas supplies to Belarus, new threat keeps dispute alive

Russia ships gas to Belarus but new threat looms
MOSCOW – Russia’s gas monopoly said Thursday it is resuming supplies to Belarus now that it has paid a $200 million bill, but the ex-Soviet neighbor is in turn threatening to stop the transit of gas on to other European countries unless Moscow settles its … Read more : As Russia resumes natural gas supplies to Belarus, new threat keeps dispute alive.

CIA hires controversial Blackwater for providing security services in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON – The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has reportedly hired the controversial private security firm, Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater, for providing security services in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

According to sources, the Blackwater has been awarded a contract of more than 100 million dollars for providing security services.

Under the contract, the U.S. Training Center … Original source on Gaea Times at : CIA hires controversial Blackwater for providing security services in Afghanistan.

SAARC meet to side step the most serious issue of terrorism

ISLAMABAD – With India and Pakistan once again engaged in the bilateral talks, the SAARC Conference of Home Ministers scheduled to take place here in Pakistan’s capital on Saturday is unlikely to discuss seriously the most pressing issue of the region – terrorism.

According to classified documents, which contain the agenda of the conference … Original article on : SAARC meet to side step the most serious issue of terrorism.

Fear overshadows Tibetan mindset as Samdrup’s trial awaits justice

NEW YORK J – The ongoing controversy of Tibetan award-winning conservationist and philanthropist Karma Samdrup being tortured by the Chinese captors has evoked fear in the minds of the Tibetans as they fear a border crackdown.

Karma, a prominent businessman, was arrested in early January on charges of robbing graves and stealing cultural artifacts. His … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Fear overshadows Tibetan mindset as Samdrup’s trial awaits justice.

Geelani, Mirwaiz detained in Kashmir

SRINAGAR – As India and Pakistan opened talks Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was detained under a tough law and moderate Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was put under house arrest.

Geelani was booked under the Public Safety Act for making provocative speeches inciting youths to violence, Srinagar District Magistrate Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said. …. Read the original article  : here.

Picasso ‘blue period’ painting sells for nearly 38 million pounds ($52 million) in London sale

Picasso ‘blue period’ work sells for $52 million

LONDON – Pablo Picasso’s “Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto,” a work from the painter’s “blue period,” has sold for near 35 million pounds ($52 million) at a London auction.
The sale price at the Christie’s auction Wednesday night was at the lower end of estimates.
And in a further … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Picasso ‘blue period’ painting sells for nearly 38 million pounds ($52 million) in London sale.

Masseuse claims Al Gore pestered her for sexual gratification

WASHINGTON – In a controversial revelation, it has been claimed that authorities in Portland, Ore., had suppressed a masseuse’s claim that she was sexually assaulted by former vice president and Nobel laureate Al Gore during his visit to the city.

Officials have revealed that the city’s authorities investigated the case in late 2006 and early 2007, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Princess Diana was ‘mad’, jokes son Prince Harry

LONDON – Prince Harry recently joked that one word he would use to describe his mother would be ‘mad’.

The 25-year-old royal made this comment when he was asked what the Princess would have made of the charity work that he and his elder brother William are carrying out in Africa.

“Every day, whatever we do, …. Read the original article  : here.

Exhibit imagines sustainable transportation in New York, 9 other cities in 2030

NY exhibit imagines utopian, green cities in 2030

NEW YORK – Imagine no cars – or fewer, anyway.
In New York City, a two-mile stretch of the FDR Drive parkway is torn down to open lower Manhattan for parks and plazas. In Jakarta, Indonesia, bike taxis are re-engineered to be lighter and easier to steer.
These cities and … Read more »»».

White House showcasing improved Russian relations as President Medvedev visits

White House points to success as Medvedev visits
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is showcasing what it sees as one of its main foreign policy successes – warmer relations with Russia – as it welcomes President Dmitry Medvedev to the White House.
Struggling with problems in Afghanistan, the Middle East and elsewhere, administration officials can …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : White House showcasing improved Russian relations as President Medvedev visits.

Afghan Govt. backs Obama’s decision to appoint Petraeus as new NATO boss

KABUL – The Afghan government has backed President Barack Obama’s decision to appoint Central Command Chief General David Petraeus as the new head of the NATO forces in the country, saying it is looking forward to working with the new commander.

General Petraeus took over from General Stanley McChrystal, who had resigned following making disparaging remarks …. Original source  : Afghan Govt. backs Obama’s decision to appoint Petraeus as new NATO boss.

China breaks up terrorist ring in Xinjiang

BEIJING J – China has cracked down on a terrorist ring, arresting over ten members of “East Turkistan” a terrorist group including its leader.

“The terrorist group was involved in the violent attacks targetting border police in China’s westernmost city of Kashi in Xinjiang and engineered explosions in Kuqa County of Xinjiang in 2008,” the Xinhua … Read this article on Gaea Times at : China breaks up terrorist ring in Xinjiang.

Russia resumes natural gas supplies to Belarus after it pays off its debt

Russia resumes gas supplies to Belarus
MOSCOW – Russia’s state-controlled natural gas monopoly said Thursday it is resuming gas supplies to Belarus now that it has paid its nearly $200 million debt for previous shipments.

The Kremlin said the chief of Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom natural gas giant, Alexei Miller, has told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev the company …. Source article  : Russia resumes natural gas supplies to Belarus after it pays off its debt.

Police: Teen falls from 4-story stone observation tower in Conn. park, dies of head injury

Police: Teen dies in fall from tower in Conn. park

HAMDEN, Conn. – Police say a teenager has fallen from an observation tower in Connecticut’s Sleeping Giant State Park and has died.
State police say two hikers found 19-year-old Matthew Roche on Wednesday afternoon at the bottom of the Hamden park’s stone tower. They say he had …. Original source  : Police: Teen falls from 4-story stone observation tower in Conn. park, dies of head injury.

Scholars from across the world hail glory of Tamil literature

COIMBATORE – Scholars from India and abroad hailed the grandeur of Tamil literature at the World Classical Tamil Conference, which commenced here on Wednesday.

Inaugurated by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the five-day conference will be hosting experts in Tamil literature and history from Sri Lanka, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, United States, Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany, among [..] Read the original article: here.