British Airways works to return operations to normal after strike, ahead of another on Sat

BA strives to recover from impact of 3-day strike

LONDON – British Airways worked to get operations back to normal on Tuesday following a three-day strike by cabin crew that the airline says cost it about 21 million pounds ($31.5 million).
The airline faces a second walkout this weekend – this time for four days beginning Saturday … Read more >>.

Iran annoyed over Pak’s delay in finalising electricity import deal

ISLAMABAD – Iran has expressed serious discontent over the delay on the part of Pakistan in finalising the deal regarding importing electricity from it.

Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Masha’allah Shakeri said Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Islamabad in 2008 regarding providing 1,135MW of electricity, but even after 15 months no final agreement …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Porn company offers to end Nadya Suleman’s money woes

WASHINGTON – Nadya Suleman a.k.a. “Octomom”, who is having financial problems, has received an offer from porn video maker Vivid Entertainment to star in one of their videos.

Suleman, 34, who is reportedly on the verge of foreclosure on her California home for missing a series of payments, was on March 22 offered a role by [..] Read the original article: here.

Serial breast grabber on the loose in Sydney!

SYDNEY – Women in northwest Sydney are living in fear after three attacks by a serial breast grabber in a fortnight.

Police said the first attack occurred on Birmingham Street, followed by another incident at Railway Terrace, Guildford and a third time at Guildford Road.
Inspector Adam Phillips of Merrylands police said that in all three incidents …. Source article  : Serial breast grabber on the loose in Sydney!.

US-Pak nuke deal will further complicate South Asian security, says Chinese expert

NEW DELHI – The security situation in South Asia could get further complicated if the US agrees to have a civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan, according to experts.

Pakistan and the US are set to hold their first high-level strategic dialogue this week in Washington, co-chaired by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistan’s Foreign … Original article on : US-Pak nuke deal will further complicate South Asian security, says Chinese expert.

Mulayam Singh Yadav not allowed to unveil Lohia’s statue

LUCKNOW – Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav was on Tuesday not allowed to unveil the statue of Ram Manohar Lohia in Lucknow following which he had a scuffle with the police personnel.

Sources said the Samajwadi Party supremo was about to unveil the statue, when the police personnel following stopped him from doing so.
“The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mulayam Singh Yadav not allowed to unveil Lohia’s statue.

‘Russian roulette’ at wedding turns tragic after guest shoots himself

MELBOURNE – A wedding turned into a tragedy, when a guest was seriously wounded playing “Russian roulette” in front of a horrified bride and groom.

The police arrested a wedding guest, who had been giving a toast when he pretended he was playing the deadly game with a gun.
According to the Daily Mail, the guest claimed …. Source  : ‘Russian roulette’ at wedding turns tragic after guest shoots himself.

UN conservation meeting rejects plan to regulate sale of hammerheads used in fin trade

Sharks lose fight at UN meeting
DOHA, Qatar – A U.S.-backed proposal to protect the heavily fished hammerhead sharks, prized for their fins, has been rejected by a U.N. conservation meeting.

Populations of the scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead and smooth hammerhead have dropped 85 percent due to rising demand for shark fin soup in China and other … Read more »»».

Former Nigerian foreign minister says country’s acting leader may meet Obama next month

Nigeria’s acting leader may meet Obama
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s former top diplomat says the West African nation’s acting leader may meet with President Barack Obama when he attends a summit on nuclear proliferation in Washington next month.
Former foreign affairs minister Ojo Maduekwe says acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s U.S. visit will be his first …. Source article  : Former Nigerian foreign minister says country’s acting leader may meet Obama next month.

Nepali Congress committed to realise Koirala’s dream

KATHMANDU – Nepali Congress (NC) parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel has said the NC leadership is committed to work together as envisioned by late Girija Prasad Koirala.

Talking to the reporters after the first parliamentary party meeting since the death of party president Koirala, Poudel said: “Since the high level political mechanism was led …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Nepali Congress committed to realise Koirala’s dream.

Islamabad police nabs security official turned suicide bomber

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani police officials have reportedly nabbed two suspected suicide bombers here and also recovered a suicide jacket from their possession.

Confirming the report, acting Inspector General of Islamabad Police, Bani Amin, told reporters here that the suspects Noor Jehan and Rehmat Gul worked for the Qari Hussain Group based in the Orakzai Agency.
Amin said …. Source article  : Islamabad police nabs security official turned suicide bomber.

Agra students join hands to clean River Yamuna

AGRA – Hundreds of school students joined social activists and environmentalists here in a mass campaign to clean River Yamuna.

Holding placards and banners, scores of activists including children, took out a rally and spread mass awareness about their responsibility to keep the River Yamuna clean.
The drive was jointly organised by the Municipal Corporation of Agra … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Agra students join hands to clean River Yamuna.

Himalayan environment conference in Shimla

SHIMLA – Scores of environmentalists and conservationists came together to discuss the challenges faced by the Himalayas here on Monday.

Over 200 delegates from India, Nepal and Malaysia are participating in a three-day conference.
Jointly organised by the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies and Himalayan Mountain Forum, the meet is a follow-up of the Himalayan Chief Ministers …. Read the original article  : Himalayan environment conference in Shimla.

Seers protest against hydropower projects in Haridwar

HARIDWAR – Hindu seers and sadhus under the banner of All India Akhara Parishad, an apex body of monks, staged protest against all the hydropower projects on River Bhagirathi in Uttarakashi.

The Parishad started its indefinite demonstration at Har-Ki-Pauri in Haridwar to press for its demand for the closure of all the major projects.
In the ultimatum …. Source article  : Seers protest against hydropower projects in Haridwar.

Massive fire engulfs Surat textile shops

SURAT – The textile shops in Surat incurred losses worth millions of rupees following a massive fire that broke due to a short circuit.

Three shops were gutted, but nobody was injured in the fire that broke out on Monday night.
The fire engines were rushed to the spot to douse the fire.
“At least eight fire engines …. Source  : Massive fire engulfs Surat textile shops.

‘Porky’ and ‘Bubba’ OK for candidates to use as nicknames on Ark. ballot, but ‘Colonel’ isn’t

‘Colonel’ not OK for Ark. ballot, but ‘Porky’ is

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A retired Army colonel running for a U.S. Senate seat is criticizing an Arkansas law that prevents him from using his military title as a nickname on the ballot this spring.
In Arkansas, such monikers as Porky and Bubba are OK for the ballot, …. Source  : ‘Porky’ and ‘Bubba’ OK for candidates to use as nicknames on Ark. ballot, but ‘Colonel’ isn’t.

Helicopter mishap in Afghanistan injures members of Turkish reconstruction team

Helicopter mishap in Afghanistan injures occupants

KABUL, Afghanistan – A helicopter operated by a Turkish reconstruction team made a “hard landing” in central Afghanistan on Tuesday, injuring at least two people.
The helicopter experienced technical problems as it tried to land at a base in Midan Shar, the capital of Wardak province, said the provincial deputy police … Original source on Gaea Times at : Helicopter mishap in Afghanistan injures members of Turkish reconstruction team.

Britain at ‘increased’ risk of nuclear attack by Al-Qaeda: Reports

LONDON – Three separate UK Government reports have warned that the country faces an increased threat of a nuclear attack by Al-Qaeda terrorists.

The National Security Strategy stated that “the UK does face nuclear threats now” and there was “the possibility that nuclear weapons or nuclear material could fall into the hands of rogue states or … Read more >>>.

Belgium Prince meets President Patil

NEW DELHI – Prince Philippe of Belgium, who is presently on a state visit to India to cement bilateral ties, met President Pratibha Devisingh Patil here on Monday.

The Prince, who arrived here on Saturday with a large mission including Princess Mathilde and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Steven Vanackere, also met Vice-President Hamid Ansari …. Original source  : Belgium Prince meets President Patil.

Maoists kill policeman in Jharkhand

RANCHI – The Maoists on Tuesday morning gunned down a policeman in Jharkhand’s Sareikela-Kharsawan during their two-day shutdown call, which began on Monday.

The policeman identified as Kalicharan Bodra was killed, when the rebels fired indiscriminately on a police patrolling team near Chouka police station around 1: 30 a.m.
The Maoists later hid into the forests after … Read more »»».