Kerala artiste sets up wax museum in Maharashtra

LONAVALA – Even as wax figures have become a synonym of Madame Tussauds across the world, a wax museum has been set up in the Lonavala city of Maharashtra by an Indian artiste to recreate the magic of wax images here.

Set up by sculptor Sunil Kandallor, …. Original article  : Kerala artiste sets up wax museum in Maharashtra.

Christian woman demands removal of Buddhist statues in S. Australia

MELBOURNE – A woman has demanded a Hope Valley nursing home in South Australia to remove decorative Buddhist statues, saying that they are “stressful” for Christian residents including her 89-year-old father-in-law.

Ruth Thompson, of Vista, has lodged a complaint with the ACH Group’s Highercombe …. Source  : Christian woman demands removal of Buddhist statues in S. Australia.

Rare 17th century textiles on display in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, April 7 (IANS/WAM) More than 200 pieces of rare textiles from the 17th century from across central Asia are being showcased in one of the most comprehensive exhibitions ever held in the world.

Islamic embroidery from Morocco, Turkey, Algeria, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and a few regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan will be on … Read more >>.

Indian, Pakistani survivors of forced marriages to pitch for abandoning practice

LONDON – In the first scheme of its kind in Britain, survivors of forced marriages, mostly Indians and Pakistanis, will travel the country next month to describe the ordeals they went through in an attempt to …. Original article  : Indian, Pakistani survivors of forced marriages to pitch for abandoning practice.

Use of air force can be revisited in Naxal operations: Chidambaram

JAGADALPUR – Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that while at the present there was no mandate for the government to use the military or the air force in anti-Maoists operations, the option of using the air force could merit a revist.

Addressing …. Read the original article  : Use of air force can be revisited in Naxal operations: Chidambaram.

Mixed response to Naga-backed shutdown in Manipur

SENAPATI – Everyday life came to a standstill in parts of insurgency-hit Manipur after the United Naga Council, the apex body of Nagas, called for a 12-hour-shutdown on Tuesday.

Transportation throughout the state was crippled, but the call for a …. Read the original article  : Mixed response to Naga-backed shutdown in Manipur.

Shoaib Malik sends divorce papers to Ayesha

HYDERABAD – Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik had Wednesday sent divorce papers to his first wife Ayesha Siddiqui and she would now withdraw the criminal complaint against him, said a family friend of the Siddiquis here.

“Mr Shoaib Malik has sent divorce papers to Ayesha Siddiqui,” Shams Babar told IANS.
He said Ayesha would withdraw the criminal …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Shoaib Malik sends divorce papers to Ayesha.

Swiss team makes 1st test flight of prototype for round-the-world solar flight

Swiss test flight for round-the-world solar plane

PAYERNE, Switzerland – Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard’s team has taken its prototype for a round-the-world solar flight into the skies for the first time.
Piccard says the two-hour test flight will examine if the plane with the wingspan of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a small car can …. Original source  : Swiss team makes 1st test flight of prototype for round-the-world solar flight.

Palestinian president fires aide over scandal surrounding sex tape

Palestinian president fires aide over sex scandal

RAMALLAH, West Bank – A top aide to the Palestinian president says the chief of staff has been fired for involvement in a sex scandal.
Rafiq Natche said Wednesday that President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed his chief of staff Rafiq Husseini after he admitted to being videotaped taking off his clothes … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Palestinian president fires aide over scandal surrounding sex tape.

Tamil fans throng Malaysia’s Cyberjaya to get a glimpse of Kamal Haasan

CYBERJAYA – Hundreds of Tamil movie fans thronged the Cyberview Lodge Resort and Spa here to get a glimpse of Indian superstar Kamal Haasan.

The Tamil cinema veteran was not in Malaysia as an actor, but as the chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) south entertainment committee to discuss a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Tamil fans throng Malaysia’s Cyberjaya to get a glimpse of Kamal Haasan.

Two polls suggest conservative Tea Party going mainstream

NEW YORK – Two new polls suggest that the conservative ‘Tea Party’ movement might be going mainstream.

A Rasmussen poll released Monday found more Americans identify with the Tea Party groups than with President Obama, Fox News reports.
According to the survey, 48 percent of voters said the average Tea Party activist is more aligned with their … Read : Two polls suggest conservative Tea Party going mainstream.

Malaysian restaurants owners not sincere in hiring locals

GEORGE TOWN – A man claiming to have 30 years of experience working in restaurants has alleged that the recruitment campaign by Muslim restaurants to hire locals was merely a “show” to cover up their preference for foreign workers.

Mohamed Ali Abdul Razak, 47, alleged that the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners’ Association (Presma), by citing poor …. Read the original article  : here.

US may still cancel Obama, Karzai Washington meeting

WASHINGTON – The May 12 meeting between US President Barack Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in Washington could still be cancelled, White House sources said Tuesday.

Obama has asked Karzai to crack down on internal corruption, and according to sources here, his administration is also unhappy with comments attacking the U.S. and its allies.
Over …. Source  : US may still cancel Obama, Karzai Washington meeting.

Day curfew lifted in riot-hit old Hyderabad

HYDERABAD – The indefinite curfew clamped in old Hyderabad has been lifted from today.
With normalcy returning to the city after the posting of nearly 30 companies of the Central Paramilitary forces, besides State Police personnel, the authorities decided to lift curfew during the daytime.

According to sources,” The situation was ‘peaceful and fully under control. No …. Original source  : Day curfew lifted in riot-hit old Hyderabad.

Pak intelligence warns of terror attack in Karachi’s commercial hub

KARACHI – Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned of possible terror strikes in Karachi’s commercial hub, the Bohri Bazaar area, in the month of April.

According to sources, agencies have received intelligence inputs regarding possible terror attacks by the Taliban within a week.
Sources said intelligence agencies in their communiqu?? to the concerned authorities have also warned that … Read : Pak intelligence warns of terror attack in Karachi’s commercial hub.

Sydney magistrate allows Indian cabbie accused of ‘kidnapping’ five female passengers to visit mum

SYDNEY – A Gold Coast magistrate has suspended police reporting conditions for an Indian cabbie charged with kidnapping five female passengers so he can return home to visit his mum.

According to The Courier Mail, suspended Gold Coast Cabs driver Karan Luthra allegedly refused to let the frightened women out of his taxi after they disputed … Read : Sydney magistrate allows Indian cabbie accused of ‘kidnapping’ five female passengers to visit mum.

Renault-Nissan, Daimler unveil tie-up plan aimed at developing fuel efficient vehicles

Renault-Nissan, Daimler unveil tie-up plan

BRUSSELS – Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. have unveiled a wide-ranging three-way tie-up with German automaker Daimler AG to bolster their offerings in small, energy-efficient vehicles.
The move comes amid an industry slump that has ravaged the companies’ earnings.
The partnership will be sealed with a cross-shareholding giving each company a 3.1 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Renault-Nissan, Daimler unveil tie-up plan aimed at developing fuel efficient vehicles.

UN denies receiving Pak govt’s request to delay Benazir murder report publication

ISLAMABAD – The United Nations (UN) has rejected reports in the Pakistani media that the government has sought a further delay in the publication of the investigation report of the UN commission probing the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

“We have received …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US team arrives in Peshawar to probe consulate bombing

PESHAWAR – A four-member team from the US has arrived in Peshawar to probe Monday’s terror strike on the American consulate.

The team visited the crime scene to collect ground evidence. The rubble from the adjacent buildings, damaged in the attack, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US team arrives in Peshawar to probe consulate bombing.

IAF chief says no need for military involvement in anti-Maoist operations

GANDHINAGAR – Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik on Wednesday expressed his unwillingness to use the air force in ongoing anti-Naxal operations, saying the situation has not worsened so much merit military action.

Addressing a press conference here, Air Chief Marshal Naik … Read more >>>.