Pak must weed out its ’strategic asset’ extremist groups for survival: Editorial

ISLAMABAD – Friday’s serial bomb blasts in Lahore was the second terrorist strike in the city within a week which clearly suggests that claims regarding inflicting a body blow to extremists organisations breeding on the country’s soil were premature.

Soon after militants struck in Lahore, … Read more >>.

Pakistan Air Force to conduct massive exercise

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will conduct its biggest exercise in the third week of this month. It will cover the entire country from Skardu in the north to Arabian Sea in the south and will last 45 days.

Quoting sources, Dawn reported that Exercise High Mark-2010 will “be different from all previous exercises … Read : Pakistan Air Force to conduct massive exercise.

Shia cleric oppose Women’s Reservation Bill

ALLAHABAD – Leading Shia cleric and scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawwad has opposed Women’s Reservation Bill.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, Jawwad said that God has created women to bring up their children in a better way, and not for delivering speeches in public.
“Women are not created for doing horse-riding or … Read : Shia cleric oppose Women’s Reservation Bill.

36,000 New York cabbies involved in massive 8.3-mn dollar meter scam

NEW YORK – The United States authorities have found that nearly 36,000 drivers in New York overcharged a staggering 8.3 million dollars on 1.8 million trips through a scam generated by the simple press of a button.

The illegal income came during a 26-month period reviewed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission using … Read more >>>.

US Congress told of unholy LET-ISI nexus

NEW DELHI – Majority of think tanks and experts have informed the US Congress of the close coordination between the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Inter Services Intelligence organization of Pakistan in promoting Islamic militancy in south Asia.

They also told …. Original article  : US Congress told of unholy LET-ISI nexus.

20-year-old survives after being buried for 54 hours in China landslide

NEW DELHI – A young Chinese man survived after being buried for 54 hours in a landslide in Zizhou in Shaanxi province.

Cao Lele, 20, was pulled out of the debris by the rescuers who were surprised to see him alive after being buried for 54 … Read : 20-year-old survives after being buried for 54 hours in China landslide.

Intimate gifts reveal Queen Victoria, Prince Albert’s passionate relationship

LONDON – The passionate relationship that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had, has been revealed through the intimate gifts the two had showered upon one another.

The royal treasures, which have never been seen before, include gold bracelets fashioned with stags’ teeth and sensual paintings commissioned as …. Read the original article  : Intimate gifts reveal Queen Victoria, Prince Albert’s passionate relationship.

Prada manager sues firm over order to ‘get rid of old, fat and ugly’ staff

LONDON – A senior manager at Prada is suing the fashion label after she was ordered to get rid of “old, fat and ugly” staff working at its stores in Japan.

Rina Bovrisse, a senior retail manager at Prada Japan, also alleges that the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Prada manager sues firm over order to ‘get rid of old, fat and ugly’ staff.

Set clocks ahead, daylight time returning Sunday morning

Daylight-saving time: It’s back
WASHINGTON – America is springing forward.

Most Americans trade an hour’s sleep this weekend for more evening sunshine to enjoy after work.
Officially the change to daylight saving time occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time, though most folks set their clocks and watches ahead an hour before going to bed on Saturday.
In areas … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Set clocks ahead, daylight time returning Sunday morning.

Men, not ladies, first: we’re still sexist in writing

LONDON – Putting male names before female names in writing is a remnant of sexist thinking, a new study says.

The study was conducted by Peter Hegarty and his colleagues at the University of Surrey.
“In the 16th century, naming men before women became the acceptable word-order to use because of the thinking that men … Read more : Men, not ladies, first: we’re still sexist in writing.

Nepal army chief refuses to induct Maoist fighters en masse

KATHMANDU – Nepal Army chief General Chhatraman Singh Gurung has refused to hire fighters from the opposition Maoist party’s guerrilla army en masse.

Gurung, who became army chief last year after his predecessor, General Rookmangud Katawal, caused the collapse of the Maoist government, told visiting UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe that the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Nepal army chief refuses to induct Maoist fighters en masse.

Pope under fire for allowing paedophile priest to continue as minister

ROME – With the emergence of reports that Pope Benedict allowed a paedophile priest to continue with the ministry, the Bishop of Rome has been drawn directly into the Roman Catholic sex abuse scandal.

The priest, who was convicted of child abuse, … Read more >>.

Britain issues travel advisory to citizens against visiting ‘violent’ Pak

ISLAMABAD – Following the recent surge in bloodshed in Pakistan, Britain has issued a travel advisory to its citizens warning them against travelling to the troubled country.

According to a statement issued by the British Embassy here, there is potential threat of terrorism and sectarian riots in … Original source on Gaea Times at : Britain issues travel advisory to citizens against visiting ‘violent’ Pak.

Pak Taliban warns of retaliatory attacks on security forces in Bajaur

ISLAMABAD – The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has warned of intensifying attacks on security forces in Bajaur region of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) if does not stop the offensive against extremists in the region.

Speaking over telephone from an undisclosed location, TTP leader Maulvi Faqir Mohammed said the government … Read more : Pak Taliban warns of retaliatory attacks on security forces in Bajaur.

JI chief blames Malik, Blackwater for terror attacks in Pak

KARACHI – Blaming the controversial private US security firm, Blackwater, for the recent bloodshed in the country, Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hasan has said that the security firm is working … Read this article on Gaea Times at : JI chief blames Malik, Blackwater for terror attacks in Pak.

Bareilly curfew enters 13th day

BAREILLY – A large part of Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district is under curfew for the 13th day running today.

On Friday, at least 15 people, including a senior police officer, were injured when members of a community clashed with police to protest the release of a Muslim cleric.
The community members indulged in … Read more >>.

Tearful memorial service for Gurshan held in Melbourne, body to be flown back to India

MELBOURNE – Three-year-old Indian toddler Gurshan Singh’s memorial service was held on Saturday at a funeral chapel in Thomastown, Melbourne.

Gurshan’s body lay in a white coffin with candles burning at either end, and it will be flown back to India tonight [..] Read the original article: here.

Kidnapped toddler’s father not a ’suspect’: Brit cops

LONDON – British police officials have clarified that the father of the five-year old boy kidnapped in Pakistan’s Punjab province is neither a suspect in the case nor he has been arrested.

A senior British police official said Raja Naqqash Saeed, who was branded a suspect in the abduction case …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Kidnapped toddler’s father not a ’suspect’: Brit cops.

Peshawar on high alert following Lahore serial blasts

PESHAWAR – Following the serial bomb blasts in Lahore, security has been beefed up in Peshawar with officials expressing fears over the city being next on the terror hit list.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (Operations), Peshawar, Kareem Khan said all security measures have been taken …. Read the original article  : Peshawar on high alert following Lahore serial blasts.

Fear paralyses residents following series of low intensity blasts in Lahore

LAHORE – Just hours after Lahore was rocked with two powerful bomb blasts which killed 42 persons and wounded over 100, the city was rattled with six low intensity blasts petrifying local citizens further.

Though there were no casualties reported in the five …. Original article  : Fear paralyses residents following series of low intensity blasts in Lahore.