Thursday, February 18, 2010

General News – Newsletter for February 15, 2010

Monday, February 15, 2010


Spain willing to take in 5 prisoners from Guantanamo, up from 2 as originally announced

Spain to take 5 from Guantanamo
MADRID – Spain’s foreign minister says the country is prepared to take in five inmates from the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, rather than two as it had announced weeks ago.

Miguel Angel Moratinos made the announcement Monday at a breakfast with journalists.
He declined to give the nationalities of the five, … Read : Spain willing to take in 5 prisoners from Guantanamo, up from 2 as originally announced.

Mexico-bound BA flight turned back to London on Friday due to passenger ‘data discrepancy’

Passenger data prompts plane’s return Friday to UK

LONDON – British Airways says a Mexico-bound flight was turned back to London on Friday because of what was called a “data discrepancy” involving one passenger. Metropolitan police say the man was not arrested, and the Department for Transport says the incident revealed no breach of security.
The passenger, … Read more >>>.

Fury over ‘terminally ill’ Lockerbie bomber still living six months after
release

EDINBURGH – Cancer-hit Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi’s ‘ever improving health’ has sparked fresh fury, as Scotland Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has been criticized for not seeking a second opinion on his condition.

Megrahi has defied the … Read more »»».

‘Teddy McHuggin’ breaks world record by giving 7,777 hugs in 24 hours!
LONDON – A US man has broken the world record for the most hugs after he gave 7,777 cuddles in 24 hours.

Jeff Ondash, 51, who calls himself ‘Teddy McHuggin’, attempted the feat in an effort to raise funds for heart research, reports Sky News.
He worked the Las Vegas Strip outside … Read more »».

Women should ask for pay rise rather than wait for it to be offered
MELBOURNE – It has emerged that most women wait for a pay rise to be offered rather than going ahead and asking for it by themselves.

According to Susan Jackson, founder of the Women’s Financial Network, women feel they have to do study more …. Source  : Women should ask for pay rise rather than wait for it to be offered.

90pct of Americans would still remarry their spouse
WASHINGTON – A majority of American couples say they would still tie the knot with their spouse if they had to rethink their marriage, a new poll has revealed.he poll by CBS News found that 90percent married Americans would remarry their spouse, a percentage that has hardly changed since … Read : 90pct of Americans would still remarry their spouse.

Explosion rocks vehicle in Pakistan’s volatile northwest, killing 3 people

Blast hits vehicle in NW Pakistan, killing 3
MIR ALI, Pakistan – An explosion rocked a vehicle in Pakistan’s volatile northwest near the Afghan border, killing three people in an area dominated by militants who often stage cross-border attacks against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, officials said.
There were conflicting reports about the source … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Explosion rocks vehicle in Pakistan’s volatile northwest, killing 3 people.

Groom rows 2,500 miles to wed!
LONDON – A groom, who arrived a day late to tie the knot, was forgiven because he had reached the wedding venue after rowing across the Atlantic.

Thirty-eight year old Neil Ward, who lives in France, reached the Caribbean with the crew of Britannia III in the Atlantic Rowing Race, reports the Daily Star.
The [..] Read the original article: here.

CCTV footage reveals vital clues in German Bakery blast
PUNE – Investigating agencies have managed to find out vital clues from the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage that was obtained of the front area of German Bakery, where the blast took place on Saturday at around 7 p.m.

Sources said the CCTV footage of the German Bakery at the time of the …. Original article  : CCTV footage reveals vital clues in German Bakery blast.

US apologizes after errant rocket strike kills 10 civilians in Afghanistan
MARJA – An errant US rocket hit a compound sheltering Afghan civilians in the last Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province on Sunday, killing at least 10 people, including five children.

According to US military officials, …. Source article  : US apologizes after errant rocket strike kills 10 civilians in Afghanistan.

Pak-Iran gas pipeline deal to be signed on March 8
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Syed Naveed Qamar has said that all matters relating to Pak-Iran gas pipeline project have been finalized, and that both the parties are set to sign the project on March 8.

The News quoted Qamar, as saying that the completion of the Pak-Iran … Read more >>>.

Tale of two men, two religions and one secular identity
This is not an apocryphal story of a seamless blending of religions in India dating back centuries.  Mohammed Yaseen found himself next to an ascetic in a hospital when he was just a teen and narrated stories about the Quran in exchange for the teachings of the Ramayana. More than five decades later, Yaseen gives discourses …. Source  : Tale of two men, two religions and one secular identity.

Top UN rights body makes 1st review of Iran; US criticizes free speech limits, arrests

Top UN rights body makes 1st review of Iran

GENEVA – The U.N. Human Rights Council has begun its first review of Iran’s rights record since the body was founded in 2006.
Western countries have lined up to criticize abuses in Iran while the country’s allies, including Cuba, Venezuela and Nicarague, plan to defend Tehran’s human rights … Read : Top UN rights body makes 1st review of Iran; US criticizes free speech limits, arrests.

Three-day workshop on tribal art opens at IGNOU
NEW DELHI – Ways to promote tribal art and carry forward the legacy were in focus at a three-day workshop on art forms of Bhil and Gond tribes in India which opened at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) here Monday.

The workshop has interactive sessions on tribal art and culture along with an exhibition …. Source  : Three-day workshop on tribal art opens at IGNOU.

British journalist detained by Hamas in Gaza is ordered held for 15 days, Hamas official says

Hamas: British journalist ordered held for 15 days

GAZA City, Gaza Strip – Hamas officials in Gaza said Monday that a British journalist has been ordered held for 15 days, an unprecedented step against a foreign reporter since the Islamic militants seized control of Gaza in 2007.
Documentary filmmaker Paul Martin was detained Sunday at a Gaza …. Original source  : British journalist detained by Hamas in Gaza is ordered held for 15 days, Hamas official says.

Kite festival in Jharkhand
DHANBAD – The Indian School of Mines organised ‘Basant 2010-Kite Festival’ to welcome the spring season.

“Basant is our festival and it is celebrated everywhere. Without kite flying, the celebrations are incomplete. Kite festival is organised in Kabul and Pakistan also, and I got inspired by all those countries and organised it in Jharkhand for the …. Source  : Kite festival in Jharkhand.

Snow leopard cub rescued from Kashmir
BOTENGU VILLAGE – Wildlife wardens assisted by forest rangers rescued a three-month old snow leopard cub after it had strayed into a human habitation at Botengu village from Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

“The cub was hiding in the kitchen of the house. We didn’t tranquillise it but we relied on certain medicines to cow it … Read more : Snow leopard cub rescued from Kashmir.

Maoists refuse to release abducted Jharkhand BDO
DALBHUMGARH – Maoists in Jharkhand on Monday laid down demands for the release of a abducted Block Development Officer (BDO), Prasant Layak, who was kidnapped on Saturday from Dalbhumgarh village in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum District.

They said if their demands are not met the officer will be killed in seven days.
They demanded for the release of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Maoists refuse to release abducted Jharkhand BDO.

‘Islamic’ gangs took over British underworld following 9/11 ‘fear’: Ex-gangster
LONDON – Muslim gang members in Britain have claimed that a post-9/11 fear of terrorism has allowed them to develop a stranglehold in the criminal community.

A 21-year-old Asian ex-gang member, Amir, claims that Britain’s underworld will soon be completely dominated by Islamic gangs, saying that the West’s paranoia over terrorism was to blame.
“People don’t f*** …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Islamic’ gangs took over British underworld following 9/11 ‘fear’: Ex-gangster.

UNICEF to launch several projects to curb child abuse in Pak
LAHORE – In order to curb the disturbing rise in child abuse cases in Pakistan, the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has decided to launch different projects in collaboration with the local community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

UNICEF Local Officer Shamshad Qureshi said that a detailed plan to deal with the issue of paedophilia would …. Original source  : UNICEF to launch several projects to curb child abuse in Pak.

Tibetans living-in-exile greet US President Obama
DHARAMSALA – Tibetan refugees residing in Himachal Pradesh have written letters of greetings to US President Barack Obama, on the occasion of Losar, the Tibetan New Year and ahead of his proposed meeting with their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) set up a signing booth to collect 700 signatures on the ‘I … Read more : Tibetans living-in-exile greet US President Obama.

Family members mourn Pune blast victims
MUMBAI/PUNE – Vinita Gadani who have been alive today had she turned down the request of her friends to meet at German Bakery on Saturday.

Gadani, a twenty-two year old IT professional, was working in Pune and had come to stay with her family in Mumbai after her elder sister got engaged. Gadani’s friends insisted on …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Family members mourn Pune blast victims.

Pune bakery bombing won’t scare Israelis, Jews away from India: Chabad House owner
PUNE – The terror strike at the German Bakery in Pune has rekindled concern for the safety of Israelis and Jews in the country, but the community members have said that the bombing will not scare them away.

The bombing on Saturday, which claimed nine lives, including two foreigners and injured about 60 others, is being …. Source article  : Pune bakery bombing won’t scare Israelis, Jews away from India: Chabad House owner.

Security tightened at Kumbh Mela after Pune blast
HARIDWAR – Security has been tightened at Kumbh Mela following the deadly bomb blast in Pune.
Kailash Keswani, District President of the Business Forum of Haridwar, said the heightened safety measures were essential as the city is a holy place.

“Like the Catholics have Vatican City and the Muslims have Mecca, for Hindus the holy place is … Original source on Gaea Times at : Security tightened at Kumbh Mela after Pune blast.

Pak Punjab Governor sends roses to Sharif on Valentine’s Day!
ISLAMABAD – In a surprising move, Pakistan Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer sent a bunch of red roses to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif as a friendly gesture on the occasion of Valentine’s Day.

Taseer also forwarded a message of “friendship and love” to Sharif, the Daily Times reports.
He also thanked Sharif for “criticising him” during a news … Read more »».

Pak sceptical over assurances that India won’t wage war against it: Haqqani
LAHORE – Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington Husain Haqqani has said that Islamabad would buy 16 latest F-16 aircraft from the US in June, as it “cannot be assured by statements that India will not wage a war against us.”

“We have to largely depend upon the US for our defence related matters. India is our main …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pak sceptical over assurances that India won’t wage war against it: Haqqani.

Why Judas betrayed Jesus docu meets with controversy
LONDON – Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams’ documentary on why Judas betrayed Jesus has met with controversy.

Judas Iscariot’s motives for betraying Jesus with a kiss 2,000 years ago have been argued by theologians, but now a British academic has given credit to Adams, 61, for a new insight into one of the most controversial passages …. Source article  : Why Judas betrayed Jesus docu meets with controversy.

Five Australian ‘jihadis’ sentenced for terrorism plot
SYDNEY – Five Australian men convicted of plotting to commit violent jihad on Australian soil have been jailed for minimum terms ranging from 17 years and three months to 21 years.

Justice Anthony Whealy sentenced the men in the New South Wales Supreme Court after a jury had found them guilty in October 2009 of the …. Read the original article  : Five Australian ‘jihadis’ sentenced for terrorism plot.

Security forces kill two ‘Hizbul Mujahideen’ militants in J and K
KULGAM – Security forces gunned down two top Hizbul Mujahideen militants in a fierce encounter in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning.

The local police assisted by security forces cordoned the village early on Monday morning after receiving information that two terrorists were hiding in a house at Qaimoh, around 70 kilometers from … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Security forces kill two ‘Hizbul Mujahideen’ militants in J and K.

Antony inaugurates Def Expo, advocates indigenisation in defence
NEW DELHI – Defence Minister AK Antony today inaugurated the Def Expo India 2010, sixth International Land and Naval Defence Systems Exhibition, here today.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Antony said: “India must achieve a high level of indigenisation in defence. Our quest for self-reliance in defence underlines the importance of private sector participation on the one [..] Read the original article: here.

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