EU throws 400m pounds “down a black hole”

LONDON – Brussels pen pushers doled out a whopping 160,000pounds to a dance troupe who perform “spectacular belching” and “smelly foot” jigs, it has emerged.

The taxpayers’ money was handed to the London-based Flying Gorillas group who use “rhythm, music …. Original article  : EU throws 400m pounds “down a black hole”.

N. Korea media slams S. Korea over “persisting in anti-DPRK policy”

NEW DELHI – North Korean daily Rodong Sinmun has accused South Korean authorities of “persisting with an anti-DPRK policy.”

In a commentary published on Saturday, the newspaper also said that Seoul took “the resolution of nuclear issues on Korean Peninsula as the … Read more >>.

Body found on tires of passenger plane flying from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia

Body found on airplane tires in Saudi Arabia

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s state news agency says the remains of a body have been found on the rear tires of an airplane that flew from Beirut to the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
The National News Agency report says the jet from the Saudi “Nasair” company landed in Riyadh just … Original article on : Body found on tires of passenger plane flying from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia.

Malaysian Casanovas spiking women’s drinks with sex stimulant

KUALA LUMPUR – Casanovas are spiking women’s drinks with a stimulant, used to encourage pigs to breed, in a bid to “arouse” them for sex, a Malaysian daily has reported.

According to the Harian Metro, the men inject the drug into packaged drinks before offering them to women, who then get excited”.

Women who take the substance …. Read the original article  : Malaysian Casanovas spiking women’s drinks with sex stimulant.

Curfew imposed in Maisuma in Srinagar

SRINAGAR – After an uneasy calm yesterday here the authorities have re-imposed curfew in Maisuma locality this morning, following instances of stone-pelting.

The curfew here was lifted yesterday evening to enable people to offer prayers on Shab-e-Mehraj, an occasion with religious significance. The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by the Chief …. Original source  : Curfew imposed in Maisuma in Srinagar.

India, China account for 47pc of 5 bn global mobile connections

LONDON – A survey into the mobile phone connections worldwide has revealed that there are now over 5 billion, with the Asia-Pacific region including India and China being the main users.

Ben Wood, mobile phone analyst at CCS Insight said the mobile phone may be “the most prolific consumer device on the planet”.

“If you just take …. Original article  : India, China account for 47pc of 5 bn global mobile connections.

‘Dangerous’ Australia’s Next Top Model throws out ‘too big’ size 8 model

MELBOURNE – ‘Australia’s Next Top Model’ has been described as “dangerous” by body image experts after it threw out a size 8 teen contestant for being “too big”.

Ashlea Monigatti, 16, said she was “embarrassed” and shamed into eating salad after being excluded from a parade at the recent Australian Fashion Week in Sydney.

The schoolgirl, whose … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Dangerous’ Australia’s Next Top Model throws out ‘too big’ size 8 model.

China is world’s biggest sex-toy producer

NEW DELHI – China has become the world’s biggest sex toy producer, despite the country being known for its conservative stance on several issues, including sex.

China produces about 70 percent of the world’s sex toys, Xinhua quoted Chinese sex toy manufacturer, Romeo Jiang, as saying.

China’s sex toy industry in China, with more than 1,000 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : China is world’s biggest sex-toy producer.

China rejects Japan media on military spending

BEIJING – China has rejected Japanese media reports on its military spending being 1.5 times higher than the country’s 2010 defense budget cited in March.

According to the China Daily, Japanese media, including Kyodo News and Japan Today reported on Thursday that China’s military spending is 788 billion Yuan (116.4 billion dollars) in 2010, about … Read more : China rejects Japan media on military spending.

Police unearth CDs of Taliban like terror module in Kerala

ALUVA/MUVATTUPUZHA – Kerala Police have unearthed compact discs allegedly belonging to a Taliban-like terror module in Aluva and Muvattupuzha areas of the state.

Police sources said the CDs belonged to the Popular Front of India (PFI). They confirmed that they had retrieved many terror related documents that contained Taliban and Al-Queda plans for attacks.

Police said …. Original article  : Police unearth CDs of Taliban like terror module in Kerala.

UK looking for ways to ban Anna Chapman’s return

LONDON – The British Home Office is looking for ways to stop the Russian spy Anna Chapman, from returning to the country.

According to The Telegraph, officials are investigating ways to legally bar her after she announced her intention to move back to the country where she had lived for seven years.

Anna was granted a passport … Read more >>>.

Online sex shops booming in China

NEW DELHI – More and more Chinese are going online to buy sex toys and products these days.

“Many Chinese want to buy sex toys but cringe at the thought of entering sex shops,” Li Yinhe, a sociologist and sexologist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.

“Online sex-toy shopping can avoid such problems since … Original article on : Online sex shops booming in China.

China’s ’sexual’ revolution

NEW DELHI – China is shedding its conservative garb and turning to adult sex toys and products more openly these days.

“We now have equal number of male and female purchasers in Beijing. Our sales have kept increasing, with an annual increase of 30 percent over the past decade,” Li Fang, CEO of Juse, one of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : China’s ’sexual’ revolution.

Gen. Petraeus facing resistance from Karzai over village defense forces

KABUL – Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has reportedly raised objections to an American plan to create Afghan village defence forces to fight the Taliban.

According to a Washington Post report, Karzai has suggested that the plan mooted by new NATO commander General David Petraeus requires a revisit.

The idea of recruiting villagers into local defense programs is …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Gen. Petraeus facing resistance from Karzai over village defense forces.

Kashmir crisis: Farooq Abdullah meets Chidambaram

NEW DELHI – Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah met Home Minister P Chidambaram here today to discuss steps being taken by the Centre and state governments to bring back normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to sources, an AICC delegation is likely to visit the Kashmir Valley ahead of Monday’s all-party meeting … Read : Kashmir crisis: Farooq Abdullah meets Chidambaram.

Nude scenes in films are “unsuitable”, says Malaysian Culture Minister

KUALA LUMPUR – Dr Rais Yatim, the Malaysian minister for Information, Communications, and Culture, says actors will not be allowed to violate the tenets of Islam and pose nude for films.

“Something that is prohibited in Islam and is still done is a violation. So, we are not keen to discuss this matter,” The Star Online …. Source  : Nude scenes in films are “unsuitable”, says Malaysian Culture Minister.

Britain’s most wanted fugitive Moat commits suicide

LONDON – Britain’s most wanted fugitive Raoul Moat has shot himself after a six-hour stand-off with armed officers in Rothbury, Northumberland.

According to The Sun, he shot himself at He shot himself at 1.15am and was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital by armed convoy, but he was pronounced dead at 0220 BST on Saturday morning.

Moat had …. Source article  : Britain’s most wanted fugitive Moat commits suicide.

Newspaper, artist defend Mandela anatomy painting

CAPE TOWN – The Mail and Guardian has defended itself and the artist behind a painting depicting an autopsy of former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The African National Congress (ANC), however, condemned the painting, calling it racist and an act of “witchcraft”.

“In African society it is a foreign act of ubuthakathi (witchcraft) to kill …. Original article  : Newspaper, artist defend Mandela anatomy painting.

UK ambassador regrets any offense caused by blog post praising late Lebanese cleric

UK envoy regrets offense over blog on late cleric

BEIRUT – Britain’s ambassador to Beirut says she regrets any offense caused by a controversial blog post in which she praised Lebanon’s late leading Shiite cleric.
Frances Guy angered Israelis and embarrassed officials in London after describing Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah as a “true man of religion” … Read : UK ambassador regrets any offense caused by blog post praising late Lebanese cleric.

Arab Americans protest CNN’s firing of senior editor Nasr

WASHINGTON – Arab-Americans have expressed their anger over CNN firing its Senior Middle East News Editor Octavia Nasr.

Nasr’s 20-year career at CNN ended Wednesday after a tweet mourning the death of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, a Lebanese Shiite cleric whom she called “one of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot.”

Facing a rash of criticism, she …. Read the original article  : Arab Americans protest CNN’s firing of senior editor Nasr.