Pak army chief wants Indian missions in Afghanistan closed

TORONTO – The Pakistan army under General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is sponsoring a large-scale guerrilla war through Afghan proxies to keep India out of Afghanistan, according to a Canadian diplomat and former deputy head of the UN mission in Kabul.

Chris Alexander, who was Canada’s ambassador in Kabul from 2003 to 2005 and later deputy of … Read more »».

Barack Obama says dinner with daughters is a ‘prize’

LONDON – Barack Obama has said that having dinner with his two daughters is a “prize”, as this is what he most looks forward to when leaving the Oval Office every day.

In an interview with CBS television’s “Sunday Morning” show, the US President said that time with his family is “a prize.”

He also said that …. Source article  : Barack Obama says dinner with daughters is a ‘prize’.

Israel President denies calling British ‘anti-Semites’

LONDON – Israel President Shimon Peres has denied calling Britishers “anti-Semites,” even while criticizing Britain for its consistent pro-Arab stance against Israel.

Peres said he views Israeli relations with Britain as “of the greatest importance” and has the “highest regard” for the way in which the latter stood alone against Nazi Germany during the Second …. Source  : Israel President denies calling British ‘anti-Semites’.

Chinese press body to take steps to protect journalists’ rights

NEW DELHI – In a statement, China’s General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) has emphasized the protection of reporters’ rights in newsgathering, following a string of suspected attacks against journalists who exposed scandals.

“Media organizations have the right to know, interview, publish, criticize and supervise issues related to national and public interests,” the in a …. Read the original article  : here.

Chinese, Asian interns major victims of Japan’s slave-like working conditions

MELBOURNE – Chinese and Asian interns are reportedly the major victims of Japan punishing working conditions, reports The Australian.

Japan accepts 180,000 low-wage temporary interns a year under a scheme that lets it address labour shortages by confronting the politically difficult question of increasing immigration from developing countries.

The interns, and their homelands, are supposed to benefit … Original article on : Chinese, Asian interns major victims of Japan’s slave-like working conditions.

Police detain Chinese sex workers’ activist who called for legalization of prostitution

Police detain China activist for sex worker rights

BEIJING – Plainclothes officers detained a Chinese activist for sex workers’ rights Monday, a few days after she publicly called for prostitution to be legalized, her sister said.
Ye Haiyan was nabbed at the offices of her community group, the China Women’s Rights Workshops, and told she would be …. Source  : Police detain Chinese sex workers’ activist who called for legalization of prostitution.

Iraq: Gunmen blow up house of Fallujah policeman, killing him, wife and daughter, 4

Iraq: Gunmen blow up policeman’s house, 3 killed

BAGHDAD – Officials say gunmen have blown up the house of a policeman in the former al-Qaida stronghold of Fallujah west of Baghdad, killing him, his wife and 4-year-old daughter.
The police and hospital officials say the house in Fallujah’s Karmah district was blown up before dawn while the …. Source  : Iraq: Gunmen blow up house of Fallujah policeman, killing him, wife and daughter, 4.

US might attack Iran if required: Mullen

LONDON – Unites States’ Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has admitted that the country will not hesitate to attack Iran if required to prevent the latter from acquiring nuclear weapons.

According to The Guardian, the US approach to the threat of Iran developing the bomb, in line with that of the UK [..] Read the original article: here.

UK to crack down on suspect migrant student visa rise

LONDON – The British Home Office has decided to conduct a review of student visas after a controversial surge in numbers raised fears that the new points-based application system is providing a back door entry to the country for bogus pupils.

Whitehall has for the time being said that visas for students from Pakistan and Nepal … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : UK to crack down on suspect migrant student visa rise.

Tibetan rag picker ‘most beautiful girl’ on internet

BEIJING – A 15-year-old Tibetan girl became popular among netizens after a Chinese internet forum referred to her as “the most beautiful girl” for putting trash into the bin at the Shanghai Expo Garden.

The website “Who is the Most Beautiful Girl at the Expo?”, which rated the status of the teenager, was showered with comments … Original source on Gaea Times at : Tibetan rag picker ‘most beautiful girl’ on internet.

Price rise issue: Opposition accepts government’s compromise formula

NEW DELHI – Efforts to break the week-long deadlock between the government and Opposition over the price rise issue have met with some success, with leaders of all parties meeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday morning and agreeing to compromise formula.

The compromise formula includes a resolution, which will be adopted in both houses of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Price rise issue: Opposition accepts government’s compromise formula.

Brazil President offers asylum to potential Iran stoning victim Ashtiani

LONDON – Brazilian President Luiz In???cio Lula da Silva has offered asylum to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for ‘adultery’.

This move has raised hopes that she might be spared by Iran.

“If my friendship with the president of Iran and the regard I hold him in is worth something, … Read more »».

Veiled Iranian women’s rugby team makes European debut

LONDON – Rugby and women may not seem ideal in deeply Islamic Iran, but women’s rugby has been growing in popularity since the game was introduced in that country more than 10 years ago.

According to The Telegraph, this weekend marked the team’s first time in Europe when they took part in a sevens tournament. …. Original source  : Veiled Iranian women’s rugby team makes European debut.

ISI-Taliban links “a concern” to US, says Gates

WASHINGTON – The United States has acknowledged that the allegations that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency is guiding the Taliban were “a concern”.

“There’s no question about it (ISI-Taliban link concern), but I would say that, again, we walked out on Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1989 and left them basically holding the bag. And there is …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ISI-Taliban links “a concern” to US, says Gates.

American ambitions in Afghanistan ‘not worth it’: US think tank

WASHINGTON – Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass insists that the United States should scale down its ambitions in Afghanistan, saying that that they are not “worth it”.

“I don’t think Afghanistan warrants the scale of investment the United States is making. The C.I.A. Director Leon Panetta as you know, Harry, estimates there’s only … Read more >>>.

NY Rep Maloney too busy to debate with Indian American challenger

NEW YORK – Nine time New York Representative Carolyn B. Maloney is reported to be ignoring invites to have a debate with first-time Indian American challenger and Democratic congressional hopeful Reshma Saujani.

Saujani is an Indian-American lawyer and politician who is running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 14th …. Read the original article  : here.

50 pct British motorists would fail driving test

LONDON – Almost half of the 33.5 million motorists of Britain would fail a driving test if they have to retake it, recent findings have revealed.

Britain’s motorists have picked up so many bad habits that they are an accident risk.

The findings have encouraged regular checking of people’s driving skills.

Road safety charity Brake is requesting [..] Read the original article: here.

Brit man sets fastest round-the-world cycle trip record

LONDON – A British man has set the record for the fastest cycle trip around the world.

Vin Cox completed his 18,172-mile road trip in London’s Greenwich after cycling for 176 days.

Mark Beaumont, who completed the journey in 195 days in 2008, held the earlier Guinness World Record. ox is a cycling proficiency instructor from …. Original article  : Brit man sets fastest round-the-world cycle trip record.

Female bank employees urging criminals in jail to open accounts

LONDON – A bank is sending its female employees to jails so that they can urge sex offenders and paedophiles to open a bank account.

High Street giant Barclays has sent out its female customer services workers inside 17 jails, including Parkhurst and Albany on the Isle of Wight.

One of the staff at a prison alleged … Original article on : Female bank employees urging criminals in jail to open accounts.

Sohrabuddin case: CBI wants Amit Shah to be remanded for five days

AHMEDABAD – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today sought former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah’s custody for five more days in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

At the hearing today, the CBI opposed Shah’s bail plea and requested the court to put Shah in its custody for five more days, as [..] Read the original article: here.