PPP says no proposal under consideration for granting extension to Kayani

LAHORE – The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has denied there being any proposal being considered regarding extending the service of Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Interacting with media persons during a press conference here, PPP Central Secretary Information Fauzia Wahab said …. Original article  : PPP says no proposal under consideration for granting extension to Kayani.

Kayani, Pasha continue Pak’s traditional anti-India agenda: NYT

NEW YORK – The report regarding Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani extending the tenure of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) Lt.Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha by a year clearly suggests that nothing much has changed in the country and two still rule the …. Read the original article  : Kayani, Pasha continue Pak’s traditional anti-India agenda: NYT.

China orders reporters trained in Marxist, communist theory to weed out politically incorrect

China orders reporters trained in Marxist theory

BEIJING – China will toughen requirements for reporters by launching a new certification system that requires training in Marxist and communist theories of news, a media official said, citing problems with the current crop of mainland journalists.
The South China Morning Post reported Thursday that Li Dongdong, deputy director of … Read more »».

Clashes between Islamists, Somali government continues into second day after 23 killed

Fighting in Somali capital continues after 23 dead

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Fighting between Islamist insurgents and government forces continued for a second day in the Somali capital as medical officials say at least 23 people died in the clashes.
The head of Mogadishu’s ambulance service, Ali Muse, said Thursday he saw 20 bodies Wednesday after fighting broke … Original source on Gaea Times at : Clashes between Islamists, Somali government continues into second day after 23 killed.

UK’s ‘racist’ Met Police accused of ‘excessive’ stops of ethnic minorities

LONDON – Britain’s Metropolitan police was responsible for 120,000 ‘excessive’ stops against people from ethnic minorities in 2008/9, according to the official equalities watchdog.

The Metropolitan Police force has been identified as the biggest offender and placed under the most pressure by the report.
According … Read more : UK’s ‘racist’ Met Police accused of ‘excessive’ stops of ethnic minorities.

Fifth suspect emerges in murder of Indian shopkeeper in UK

HUDDERSFIELD – A fifth man has been accused and charged with the murder of Indian shopkeeper Gurmail Singh, who was beaten to death during an alleged robbery at his store in Huddersfield, UK, on February 20.

Police said that 20-year-old Umare Aslam has been charged with Singh’s …. Source article  : Fifth suspect emerges in murder of Indian shopkeeper in UK.

Pak Law Minister says kidnapped Brit toddler found

LONDON/ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Law Minister Babar Awan has revealed that a five-year-old British boy kidnapped in Pakistan has been found.

Sky News quoted Awan as saying that toddler Sahil Saeed was found yesterday, but news of his freedom had been kept quiet for safety reasons and the case is still shrouded in …. Read the original article  : Pak Law Minister says kidnapped Brit toddler found.

Man earns Guinness World Record for world’s largest house of cards!

LONDON – An American man has earned himself a Guinness World Record after he built the world’s largest ever house of cards.

Bryan Berg, 34, an architect, used 218,792 cards on a giant replica of China’s Venetian Macau hotel.
His effort, now … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Man earns Guinness World Record for world’s largest house of cards!.

Vatican fury over Rome school’s condom vending machines installation

LONDON – The headmaster of a school in Rome has come under criticism from the Vatican after he installed condom vending machines for students.

Critics in the Vatican have seen the move, as a matter of “deep concern”, while supporters say it is “evidence of great courage”, with the headmaster … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Vatican fury over Rome school’s condom vending machines installation.

Major fire engulfs central London office block

LONDON – More than 100 firefighters are tackling a major fire that started in a restaurant and office block in central London.

According to the BBC, the flames took hold just after 4 a.m.GMT at the building in Tabernacle Street, Shoreditch.
Some 20 fire engines are at the …. Read the original article  : Major fire engulfs central London office block.

Israel’s Netanyahu reprimands minister over poor handling of settlement flap

Israel PM reprimands minister over settlement flap

JERUSALEM – Israel’s prime minister has reprimanded a top official over the announcement of new settlement construction during a high-profile visit by Vice President Joe Biden.
But Benjamin Netanyahu is giving no indication that he will reverse the order.
Earlier this week, Israel’s Interior Ministry announced plans to build 1,600 new … Read more >>>.

BP to buy exploration rights in Brazil, Azerbaijan, Gulf of Mexico from Devon Energy for $7B

BP to pay $7 billion for exploration rights

LONDON – Oil company BP PLC says it will pay $7 billion to acquire exploration rights in Brazil, Azerbaijan and the Gulf of Mexico from Devon Energy Corp.
BP will buy the rights for 10 offshore exploration blocks in Brazil, a portfolio of rights in the U.S. Gulf of … Original source on Gaea Times at : BP to buy exploration rights in Brazil, Azerbaijan, Gulf of Mexico from Devon Energy for $7B.

Brit Muslim call centre worker facing terror charges

LONDON – A British Muslim man, who worked at a British Airways call centre, has been charged with preparing an act of terrorism.

According to The Telegraph, Rajib Karim, 30, from Newcastle was charged with preparing an act of terrorism or assisting another person to commit an act of terrorism between the April 13 2006 and …. Original source  : Brit Muslim call centre worker facing terror charges.

Chinese Navy has no plan for overseas bases: Ex-deputy chief

BEIJING – The Chinese Navy will not seek to build military bases overseas, a retired senior officer has said amid media reports that the country harbours such “ambitions”.

Rear Admiral (retired) Zhang Deshun, who was till recently the deputy chief of staff of the PLA navy, said a naval force with advanced armaments and enhanced capabilities …. Original source  : Chinese Navy has no plan for overseas bases: Ex-deputy chief.

Kidnapped Brit toddler’s father returns to London from Pakistan

LONDON – Notwithstanding the demand of Pakistani police officials, the father of the kidnapped five-year old boy, Sahil Saeed, who was abducted from his grandmother’s house in Punjab’s Jhelum last week, has returned to London.

Sahil’s father, Raja Saeed, reportedly took a flight back to London even as Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the police … Read more : Kidnapped Brit toddler’s father returns to London from Pakistan.

Centre ready for all-party meet to discuss Women’s Reservation Bill: Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI – Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said the Central Government is ready to call for an all-party meeting to discuss the Women’s Reservation Bill.

“Leaders from all political outfits will be called for the meeting,” said Mukherjee.
“Several other issues would also be discussed in the all-party meeting,” he added.
Countering the charges made by … Read more »»».

Kansas City, Mo., board shuttering almost half the district’s schools to avoid going broke

Kansas City, Mo., faces mass school closures

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Facing potential bankruptcy, the Kansas City school board is shuttering almost half the district’s schools.
Administrators say the closures are necessary to keep the district from plowing through what little is left of the $2 billion it received as part of a groundbreaking desegregation case. The … Original source on Gaea Times at : Kansas City, Mo., board shuttering almost half the district’s schools to avoid going broke.

Thackeray ‘bahu’ visits parliament, wants to join Congress

NEW DELHI – Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray’s daughter-in-law Smita Thackeray visited Parliament today and met with Congress leaders, whom she refused to name.

She, however, showered praise on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, describing her as her inspiration and lauded Rahul Gandhi’s style of politics.
Thackeray categorically expressed her desire to join the Congress and to …. Original article  : Thackeray ‘bahu’ visits parliament, wants to join Congress.

Tourists enjoy paragliding in Solang Nala

SOLANG NALA – Adventure-lovers and sports enthusiasts are making a beeline to picturesque Solang Nala in Himachal Pradesh, for paragliding.

Flying over snowy peaks of Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas give tourists a thrilling experience.
There are more than hundred trained pilots and more [..] Read the original article: here.

Kochi king’s palace in Kerala being beautified

TRIPUNITHURA /KOCHI – Special masons and experts are on their way to Kochi to give a restoration touch to an erstwhile palace used by Kochi Kings.

The magnificent hill palace at Thripunithura in Kerala’s Ernakulam district was …. Original article  : Kochi king’s palace in Kerala being beautified.