Palin says building mosque near Ground Zero is ‘unnecessary provocation’

NEW YORK – Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has said that plans for building a mosque near Ground Zero (the place where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood) is completely avoidable.

In Tweet released Sunday, Palin, who is seen as a potential 2012 presidential candidate, was quoted … Read more »»».

Obama’s Monday: Mercury astronaut, champion Phoenix Mercury team _ and salute to Broadway

Obama’s Monday: Mercury astronaut, Mercury team
WASHINGTON – Back from a weekend vacation, President Barack Obama is welcoming a Mercury astronaut and the Phoenix Mercury women’s basketball champions to the White House. The day that will end with the East Room resounding with the music of Broadway.
The president begins his week with remarks about …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Obama’s Monday: Mercury astronaut, champion Phoenix Mercury team _ and salute to Broadway.

Remains of Australian, UK WWI soldiers discovered in mass grave in France given proper burial

WWI troops found in mass grave reburied in France

FROMELLES, France – The remains of last of 250 Australian and British soldiers whose bodies were discovered in a mass grave were being reburied Monday on the 94th anniversary of the bloody World War I battle of Fromelles.
Prince Charles and top Australian officials were to attend the …. Read the original article  : here.

Fresh batch of 2083 pilgrims leave for Amarnath

JAMMU – A fresh batch of 2,083 pilgrims left here on Monday for their onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

The batch comprising 1,333 men, 517 women, 42 children and 191 sadhus, left in a cavalcade of 65 vehicles from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar.

With today’s batch, as many as 52,249 pilgrims have …. Read the original article  : Fresh batch of 2083 pilgrims leave for Amarnath.

Eleven killed in Allahabad road accident

ALLAHABAD – At least 11 people were killed and 12 others injured, when a jeep in which they were travelling collided head on with a truck near the Varanasi-Allahabad National Highway today.

The mishap took place in Uttaraon police station area.

All the injured have been admitted to a hospital and the driver of the truck has …. Read the original article  : here.

Heavy rains affect pineapple production in parts of West Bengal

CALCUTTA – Heavy rainfall has affected pineapple cultivation in parts of West Bengal.

According to Kajal Ghosh, the President of the Pineapple Merchant Association, production was normal this year but heavy rain fall and overflow of water damaged the pineapple.

Farmers, who were expecting a good crop this year, are now facing losses.

“This year production was …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Heavy rains affect pineapple production in parts of West Bengal.

Son claims Osama’s family ’stranded’ in Iran

LONDON – Omar bin Laden, the son of Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, has claimed that some members of the family are “stranded” in Iran and under house arrest since 2001.
He has called on Tehran to release them.

The Telegraph quoted him, as saying: “I think the time has come for my family members to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Disaster relief personnel help rail accident victims in West Bengal

NEW DELHI – Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday deployed five teams of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) consisting of 140 personnel to assist in the rescue and relief operations following the train accident at Sainthia in West Bengal’s Birbhum District.

Three teams have already reached the site and the remaining two will be … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Disaster relief personnel help rail accident victims in West Bengal.

Pak of vital strategic importance for securing Afghanistan and region: expert

ISLAMABAD – Experts have said that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Islamabad, ahead of the Kabul Conference, will go beyond negotiating tactics regarding peace in the region.

Clinton is on a two-day Pakistan visit, where she will announce a 500 million dollar funding for new projects aimed at improving water, energy, agriculture, … Read more : Pak of vital strategic importance for securing Afghanistan and region: expert.

Krishna to attend international conference on Afghanistan’s future

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI0: External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will leave on Monday afternoon for Kabul, where he will attend a day-long international conference on Tuesday on the future of Afghanistan.

Official sources said that apart from Krishna, 69 other world leaders would discuss steps for peace, stability and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan, according to sources, … Read more >>.

5 civilians die in battle in Somali capital; 10 children hurt when mortar hits school

5 Somalis killed in Mogadishu battle
MOGADISHU, Somalia – An emergency official in Somalia’s capital says at least five people have died during a battle between Islamist militants and government forces backed by African Union peacekeepers.

Ali Muse, the head of Mogadishu’s ambulance service, said Monday that the dead bodies of four men and one woman were …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Greek journalist killed by gunmen in Athens

Greek journalist gunned down in Athens
ATHENS, Greece – Authorities say a Greek journalist has been gunned down outside his home in Athens.

Thirty-seven-year-old Sokratis Giolias died after being shot more than 15 times in the capital’s neighborhood of Ilioupoli before dawn Monday.
Giolias headed the radio station Thema FM and wrote on a popular online news blog, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Greek journalist killed by gunmen in Athens.

Maryland tries to balance security, sensitivity to faith in death row inmates’ final moments

Md. weighs allowing inmates’ own clergy at death

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Maryland is considering becoming one of the few states to allow condemned inmates to choose a clergy member not employed by the state to be in the execution chamber when they die.
Corrections officials must balance some sensitive issues: security during one of the gravest tasks … Read : Maryland tries to balance security, sensitivity to faith in death row inmates’ final moments.

Washington Post probe documents growth of spending, manpower on intelligence since Sept. 11

Post documents growth of intelligence since 9/11

WASHINGTON – Since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, top-secret intelligence gathering by the government has grown so unwieldy and expensive that no one really knows what it cost and how many people are involved, The Washington Post reported Monday.
A two-year investigation by the newspaper uncovered what it termed …. Original source  : Washington Post probe documents growth of spending, manpower on intelligence since Sept. 11.

Labelle And Von Teese Austrian Show Halted Over Thunderstorm

An open air AIDS charity concert in Austria, which was set to include performances from R&B star PATTI LABELLE and burlesque dancer DITA VON TEESE, was cut short on Saturday (17Jul10) after a thunderstorm ripped through the area.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and actress Whoopi Goldberg were also due to take to the … Read more : Labelle And Von Teese Austrian Show Halted Over Thunderstorm.

Arms and ammunitions recovered from militant hideout in Poonch

SRINAGAR – Arms, ammunition and medicines were recovered from a militant hideout in the Beri Rakh forest, following gun-battle between security forces and militants in Poonch District.

“If you look at the manufacturing stamps on the recoveries, it clearly indicates that these people have infiltrated and have come from the Pakistan side. Till now we have …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Bad roads in Himachal Pradesh causing transportation worries for apple growers

NARKANDA – Apple orchard owners and transporters in Himachal Pradesh have reportedly lodged a formal complaint with the state government about the poor condition of roads.

They claim that the poor quality of roads could affect the transportation of the early varieties of apples to the plains.

They said the state’s highway number one and National Highway-22, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bad roads in Himachal Pradesh causing transportation worries for apple growers.

Gaya residents organise medical camp in Maoist-affected areas

GAYA – Residents in the Gaya region of Bihar organised a free health check up camp to help the people in the Maoist affected region on Sunday.

The camp witnessed the participation of thousands of poor people from different villages.

“This is a Naxal (Maoist) affected area, and because of that, common people face a lot …. Original article  : Gaya residents organise medical camp in Maoist-affected areas.

Punjab police arrests four Sikh militants

CHANDIGARH – Police in Punjab arrested four Sikh militants, belonging to the banned Babbar Khalsa International extremist group and recovered arms and explosives from them in the state’s Ludhiana District.

Harminder Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Gurujant Singh and Manjinder Singh were nabbed early on the Sunday.

“All these persons are key members of the Babbar Khalsa International, terrorist …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

TDP shutdown in Andhra Pradesh over Naidu’s arrest

HYDERABAD – The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has called for a shutdown across Andhra Pradesh on Monday to protest the arrest of its chief, Chandrababu Naidu.

Naidu was arrested along with 75 other politicians, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers, by Maharashtra Police on Friday for violating prohibitory orders.

They were taken into preventive custody as … Original source on Gaea Times at : TDP shutdown in Andhra Pradesh over Naidu’s arrest.