Hindustani music doyen Puttaraj Gavai is dead

BANGALORE – Puttaraj Gavai, a doyen of Hindustani music and exponent of the Gwalior Gharana, died Friday after a brief illness. He was 96.

He passed away at his ashram in Gadag in north Karnataka, about 480 km from here, the ashram authorities announced.
Winner of the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, Gavai … Original article on : Hindustani music doyen Puttaraj Gavai is dead.

Britain’s Prince William passes final flying tests, becomes search-and-rescue chopper pilot

Prince William gets his search-and-rescue wings

LONDON – After seven months of training, Prince William is going to graduate as a fully qualified search-and-rescue helicopter pilot.
His London office said William, who is second in line to the throne, is receiving a certificate and his Royal Air Force squadron badge in a small ceremony Friday.
Known in the … Read : Britain’s Prince William passes final flying tests, becomes search-and-rescue chopper pilot.

Bad boss – the main reason workers quit

MELBOURNE – If you’re a bad boss, don’t be shocked to hear ‘I Quit’ from employees more often.

A global research organization, Gallup, has found that caliber of the boss is the primary reason people stayed in the organization but also the main reason people left.

Workplace management expert Tony Wilson also believes that bosses should look …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Bad boss – the main reason workers quit.

Australia doubles Pak flood aid to 75 million dollars

SYDNEY – The Australian government has decided to raise its aid to flood-ravaged Pakistan by 40 million dollars to bring its total commitment to 75 million dollars.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement while making a flying visit to Pakistan’s Punjab province.

The latest package includes 11 million dollars in aid to help address urgent humanitarian …. Original article  : Australia doubles Pak flood aid to 75 million dollars.

Muslim extremist threat forces Spain’s ‘La Meca’ nightclub to change its name

LONDON – Facing a threat from Muslim extremists, a popular Spanish nightclub has been forced to change its name from La Meca.

La Meca (Spanish for Mecca), was the most popular disco in the coastal city of Aguila, in Murcia, southeastern Spain, in the 1980s and 90s before it closed down a decade ago.

According to the …. Source article  : Muslim extremist threat forces Spain’s ‘La Meca’ nightclub to change its name.

Female workers sue banking firm Goldman Sachs over sex discrimination

LONDON – Three female executives have sued global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs over an alleged boys’ club culture of sex discrimination.

Former vice president H.Cristina Chen-Oster, 39, former vice president Lisa Parisi, 48, and ex-associate Shanna Orlich, 30, who were paid up to 415,000 pounds a year, claim they were sidelined and forced out …. Source article  : Female workers sue banking firm Goldman Sachs over sex discrimination.

40pc of women who cheat tell at least one friend about it: UK study

LONDON – A new UK study has found that women are more likely to gossip about an affair they have had than men would, with 43 percent of them admitting they have told at least one friend about it.

The new research, carried out by dating website IllicitEncounters.com, also found that 15 percent of women tell …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Pakistan to be consulted over Afghan-Taliban reconciliation process: Karzai

ISLAMABAD – Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has reassured Pakistan of its involvement in the Afghan reconciliation process with the Taliban and other Afghan warring factions.

Karzai told Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that Kabul would enter into consultations with Islamabad over the reconciliation process, the Dawn reports.

The message was common in his interaction …. Original article  : Pakistan to be consulted over Afghan-Taliban reconciliation process: Karzai.

Trapped Chilean miners could be freed by November

LONDON – The 33 Chilean miners trapped nearly half a mile underground could be freed within two months, rescue workers have said.

The trapped men were previously warned they were unlikely to see daylight before Christmas, but chief engineer Rene Aguilar has outlined a more optimistic timescale, saying a rescue hole should reach them by the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Trapped Chilean miners could be freed by November.

10 to be held accountable for Philippines bus hijack

MANILA – At least ten civilian and police officials will be held accountable for mishandling a bus hijacking that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead here last month.

Last week, Philippines Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said police might have shot some of the hostages during their much-criticized rescue bid.

However, at a press conference on Thursday, … Original source on Gaea Times at : 10 to be held accountable for Philippines bus hijack.

One killed, five injured in clashes in Kashmir

Budgam (J-K), Sep 17 (ANI): At least one person was killed and five others injured when security forces allegedly opened fire to quell stone-pelting mobs in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam District on Friday.

The protests came even as curfew remained in force across the Kashmir Valley for the fifth successive day.

Five persons were …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Chennai-based Wife of Indian lawyer millionaire missing in Malaysia claims she’s broke

KUALA LANGAT – The wife of missing multi-millionaire A. Muthuraja, who had allegedly met the lawyer brothers implicated in the Sosilawati case early this year, claims that only Rs.1, 000 is left in his previously huge account after he came to Banting to meet the two men.

“I don’t know where his money went, but I …. Source  : Chennai-based Wife of Indian lawyer millionaire missing in Malaysia claims she’s broke.

Many Malay Tamil schools in estates facing closure

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Tamil Council has claimed that about 100 partially-aided Bantuan Modal Tamil schools, which are located on estates, are facing possible closure because of poor enrolment.

Malaysian Tamil Council managing director S. Sivasubramaniam said that apart from poor enrolment, another reason for the expected closure of these schools was that many estate …. Source  : Many Malay Tamil schools in estates facing closure.

Sri Lanka says accidental blast in east kills at least 20 people, including 2 Chinese

Sri Lanka: Accidental blast kills more than 20

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – An accidental blast of explosives intended for road construction by a Chinese firm in eastern Sri Lanka has killed at least 20 people, including two Chinese nationals, the Sri Lankan government said Friday.
A container carrying the materials exploded near a police station in the … Read more >>.

Chechen separatist detained in Poland, according to reports in Russia

Reports: Chechen separatist detained in Poland

MOSCOW – Russian TV and news agencies are reporting that a Chechen separatist wanted in Russia has been detained by police in Poland.
Senior Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev says Moscow expects Poland to extradite Akhmed Zakayev from Warsaw, where he was attending a Chechen conference, according to a ITAR-Tass news agency … Original source on Gaea Times at : Chechen separatist detained in Poland, according to reports in Russia.

Israeli military says soldiers kill wanted Hamas member in West Bank arrest raid

Israeli military says troops kill wanted Hamas man

JERUSALEM – The Israeli military says troops have killed a wanted Hamas member in a West Bank raid.
The military says soldiers were trying to arrest Iyad Abu Shilbaya early Friday in the town of Tulkarem when he ran at them, ignoring orders to halt. The military says troops … Read more »».

The Jammu and Kashmir situation: The Azadi Debate (Part I)

NEW DELHI – In the debate on Kashmir, in the slogans being shouted by protestors in the Kashmir Valley, the most common refrain is that of Azadi.

Despite this, there is little clarity about what does Azadi actually mean. Where does the motivation for Azadi come from? Is Azadi the proverbial opium that has … Read this article on Gaea Times at : The Jammu and Kashmir situation: The Azadi Debate (Part I).

Rachida Dati’s ‘plan to oust Carla Bruni-Sarkozy from Elysee Palace’

LONDON – An official biography has claimed that Rachida Dati, a rival and former justice minister, targeted French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to oust her from the Elys???e Palace to bring back President Nicolas Sarkozy’s second wife.

The book says that Bruni-Sarkozy received a police and security services file in March – including phone call …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Rachida Dati’s ‘plan to oust Carla Bruni-Sarkozy from Elysee Palace’.

Obama to announce Wall Street critic Elizabeth Warren for powerful new consumer post

Obama to name consumer advocate to new post
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday plans to announce Wall Street critic Elizabeth Warren as a special adviser overseeing the creation of a new consumer protection agency.
Warren will report to both the president and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (GYT’-nur). She’ll have the job of starting … Original article on : Obama to announce Wall Street critic Elizabeth Warren for powerful new consumer post.

Obama to announce Wall Street critic Elizabeth Warren for powerful new consumer post Friday

Obama to name consumer advocate to new post Friday
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday plans to announce Wall Street critic Elizabeth Warren as a special adviser overseeing the creation of a new consumer protection agency.
Warren will report to both the president and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (GYT’-nur). She’ll have the job of … Original article on : Obama to announce Wall Street critic Elizabeth Warren for powerful new consumer post Friday.