Pope’s popularity amongst Americans plummets following sex scandal: Poll

WASHINGTON – Only fifteen percent of Americans view Pope Benedict XVI in a positive light, while 24 percent see him negatively following the surfacing of sexual abuse cases linked to him, according to a new CBS News poll.

A year ago, the Pope’s unfavorable rating was just four percent.
The poll found that more than two in … Read more »»».

Despite Hiren Mohini’s killing, Auckland taxi sector “too slow” to act

AUCKLAND – Despite the killing of Indian-origin taxi-driver Hiren Mohini in January and attack on at least 160 cabbies in Auckland in the past five years, the taxi sector in the region have not been able to put together proper preventive measures in place, according to the New Zealand Herald.

New Zealand’s Transport Minister Steven Joyce …. Source  : Despite Hiren Mohini’s killing, Auckland taxi sector “too slow” to act.

Orchard owners, growers expect bumper mango harvest in Varanasi

VARANASI – Growers and orchard owners of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh are hopeful of a bumper harvest of mangoes this summer.

This year, there has been a record flowering of mango trees.
Farmers say if the trees get enough water now, mangoes will be available in abundance this year.
“For the last two years, production wasn’t that much. …. Original article  : Orchard owners, growers expect bumper mango harvest in Varanasi.

Victorian-era women enjoyed sex

LONDON – A long-forgotten sex survey has revealed that 19th Century wives enjoyed sex for its own sake.

The study, which reveals intimate details of the bedroom habits of Victorian women, laid unread for decades at Stanford University, where the researcher, Dr. Clelia Duel Mosher, worked.
According to the candid accounts, middle-class women of the era were … Read : Victorian-era women enjoyed sex.

Osama is alive, believes Pak journalist who interviewed Al-Qaeda chief twice

WELLINGTON – A noted Pakistani journalist, Rahimullah Yusufzai, who had interviewed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden twice in 1998, has said that he believes that the world’s most wanted man is alive.

Yusufzai, who described Laden as a ’shy’ and ‘polite’ man said the 9/11 mastermind is alive despite several claims that he has succumbed to … Read : Osama is alive, believes Pak journalist who interviewed Al-Qaeda chief twice.

Malaysia gets its first mainstream gay flick

KUALA LUMPUR – Dalam Botol, Malaysia’s first mainstream gay movie, will hit the theatres at the end of this year.

Directed by debutante Khir Rahman, the controversial film’s original title was Anu Dalam Botol. The movie is about the relationship between a homosexual couple which ends up tragically, reports New Straits Times Online.
The cast of the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Malaysia gets its first mainstream gay flick.

The Status Update Got A Student Expelled From School

BREVARD COUNTY (GaeaTimes.com)- Think twice before updating your status message in a social networking website. According to reports the status message of a graduating senior of a high school student has reportedly landed him in trouble after his school English teacher took offense of whatever he wrote on it for the public to view. The … Read more >>.

Tamilnadu Electricity Board Under Scanner

CHENNAI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has come under the fire after it proposed to increase the electricity tariff in the state. The first public hearing was tense and the majority of the participants demanded that TNEB should focus on distribution losses and transmission first. The proposal of hike drew flak … Read : Tamilnadu Electricity Board Under Scanner.

German troops accidentally kill Afghan soldiers in northern Afghanistan

German friendly fire kills Afghan soldiers

KABUL – German soldiers traveling to the scene of a deadly firefight with Taliban insurgents accidentally killed six Afghan troops, the Afghan military said Saturday. Three Germans died in the firefight with the militants.
The German central command confirmed Friday’s friendly fire incident, but put the number of Afghan casualties at …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Curfew relaxed in riot-hit Hyderabad

HYDERABAD – Curfew was relaxed in riot-hit Hyderabad on Saturday after there were no reports of communal violence on Friday.

“Prohibitory orders will be relaxed from 10 am to 1 pm in all 17 police stations limits in the old city and from 8 am to 10 am in eight areas outside … Read : Curfew relaxed in riot-hit Hyderabad.

Appropriate handling of Tibet, Taiwan issues key to better US, China ties: Hu

BEIJING – President Hu Jintao has reportedly told his US counterpart Barack Obama that an appropriate and sensitive handling of the Tibet and Taiwan issue is the key to improving Sino-US relations.

During a phone call on Friday, Obama also appealed to Hu for the two countries to … Original article on : Appropriate handling of Tibet, Taiwan issues key to better US, China ties: Hu.

Sino-Pak coordination aimed at keeping India engaged in S. Asia: Mishra

NEW DELHI – Former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra has told ANI TV in an interview that China and Pakistan are coordinating effectively with each other to keep India engaged in South Asia.

“There seems to be some coordination between China and Pakistan …. Source article  : Sino-Pak coordination aimed at keeping India engaged in S. Asia: Mishra.

Farisa Siddiqui wants cricketer Malik to divorce daughter in public

HYDERABAD – Farisa Siddiqui, who claims Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik is married to her daughter Ayesha Siddiqui, has insisted on a legal divorce for her offspring.

The Siddiquis claim that Shoaib Malik married their daughter Ayesha in 2002, but [..] Read the original article: here.

These women are legends in recorded music

NEW DELHI – They came from the bylanes of the courtesans’ colonies in heartland India to become legends in the annals of recorded music.

An exhibition, “Women on Record: Celebrating the Music of Women in the Early 20th Century”, traces the history of women in Indian classical music and their involvement with the 78 rpm … Read more : These women are legends in recorded music.

Pakistani security forces kill 20 militants near Afghan border, official says

Official: Pakistani forces kill 20 militants in NW

PARACHINAR, Pakistan – A local government official says Pakistani security forces have killed at least 20 militants near the Afghan border.
Sami Ullah said troops also captured six insurgents after the intense gunbattle Saturday in the northwestern Orakzai tribal region.
It was not immediately possible to get independent confirmation of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pakistani security forces kill 20 militants near Afghan border, official says.

US wants emerging powers to pressurise Iran

WASHINGTON – A day after asking India and Pakistan not to have transactions like their gas pipeline with Iran, the US wants everyone, particularly emerging powers, to put pressure on Tehran to curb its nuclear ambitions.

“I’m not familiar with any particular project, but this is part of our ongoing dialogue with countries that we are … Read : US wants emerging powers to pressurise Iran.

Nepal MRPs to be introduced by June

KATHMANDU – The Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said Machine Readable Passports (MRP) would be issued by the end of June.

Issuing a press statement, the ministry said:” The date for introducing the MRPs has been extended for three months. The MRPs will be introduced within June 2010.”
The ministry said aspirants can fill up [..] Read the original article: here.

Malaysian-Indian teacher to file contempt of court case against Muslim husband

IPOH – Kindergarten Malaysian Indian teacher M. Indira Gandhi, who is embroiled in a bitter custody battle with her Muslim convert husband, has said that she won’t play nice anymore, and would do whatever it takes to get her youngest child back.

Last month, a Malaysian High Court had ruled that it was in the children’s … Read more »».

Suspicion over MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s well being

LAHORE – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain is reportedly seriously ill and undergoing treatment in Germany.

Hussain’s suspicious absence from Pakistan’s political scene amidst the recent chaos over the 18th Constitutional Amendment bill has raised questions over his well being.
The MQM’s silence over the party chief’s whereabouts has only added fuel to rumours.
When asked … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Suspicion over MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s well being.

Man with half a body becomes subject of new docu

LONDON – A 35-year-old American man with half a body has become the subject of a new documentary.

Kenny Easterday’s body ends at his waist. He was born with a rare condition called sacral agenesis which prevented his spine from developing normally.
Doctors had amputated his legs when he was six-months-old doctors and used part of his …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Man with half a body becomes subject of new docu.