Campaign to recycle chewing gum into car tyres, toys launched in UK

LONDON – A campaign that aims to recycle chewing gum into car tyres, toys and mobile phone covers has been launched in Hereford.

The campaign has been started to encourage people to put their gum in special “Gumdrop” bins, which have also been made from the sticky stuff.

Under the six-month trial, the bins are being placed … Read more : Campaign to recycle chewing gum into car tyres, toys launched in UK.

Morphy Richards toaster still popping after 63yrs

MELBOURNE – The Morphy Richards toaster, which was given as a wedding present to British man Andrew Martin and his young bride, is still popping after more than 60 years.

Today, the sprightly 83-year-old still makes toast in it every morning.

“I’ve never had a problem with it. I think I’ve had to replace the element once …. Read the original article  : here.

Experts question efficacy of handing US military tasks in Iraq to civilians in 2011

WASHINGTON – With the United States military preparing to leave Iraq by the end of 2011, the Obama administration is reportedly preparing to hand over the lead to civilians.

However, administration officials and experts outside the government insist that carrying out the agreement will be challenging.

One American official said that over 1,200 specific tasks …. Original source  : Experts question efficacy of handing US military tasks in Iraq to civilians in 2011.

Brits spend 7hrs a day on TV, Internet, mobile phones

LONDON – The Office of Communications in Britain has revealed that Britons spend seven hours a day watching TV, surfing the net and using their mobile phones.

From data collected, the average person actually squeezes in the equivalent of nearly nine hours of media and communications by multi-tasking on several devices.

The statistics, which come from industry …. Source article  : Brits spend 7hrs a day on TV, Internet, mobile phones.

North Korea confirms seizing South Korean boat

PYONGYANG – North Korea confirmed Thursday, 11 days after a South Korean boat with seven people on board had gone missing, that it had seized the fishing trawler.

According to a report of the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the boat, with four South Koreans and three Chinese aboard, was intercepted by the North Korean …. Original source  : North Korea confirms seizing South Korean boat.

Somnath, Khushwant, Rajendra Prasad hit the shelves (IANS Books This Week)

NEW DELHI – This week’s book rack boasts of some heavyweight names. Former speaker Somnath Chatterjee, acclaimed writer Khushwant Singh or former Indian president Rajendra Prasad…take your pick.

1. Book: “Keeping the Faith”; Written by Somnath Chatterjee; Published by Harper-Collins India; Priced at Rs.499 …. Source article  : Somnath, Khushwant, Rajendra Prasad hit the shelves (IANS Books This Week).

40 injured as bull leaps into packed stands at Spanish bullring and runs amok

Bull leaps into bullring stands in Spain, 40 hurt

MADRID – Regional officials say 40 people were injured when a bull leapt into the packed grandstands of a Spanish bullring and ran amok.
Video shown on Spanish media outlets Thursday shows the bull jumping 10 meters (yards) from the ring into the stands causing panic as he …. Original article  : 40 injured as bull leaps into packed stands at Spanish bullring and runs amok.

Taiwan seeks F-16s to boost defence

TAIPEI – Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou called Thursday on the US to sell F-16s to Taipei to boost the island’s defences after the Pentagon said this week that China is gaining military superiority over Taiwan.

“Taiwan people’s top concern is Taiwan’s security,” Ma said. “I hope the US can cautiously consider selling F-16C/Ds to Taiwan as …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Taiwan seeks F-16s to boost defence.

Oz judge orders Muslim witness to remove burqa in front of jury

PERTH – An Australian judge has ordered that a 36-year-old Muslim woman must remove her traditional face-covering burqa while giving evidence before a jury in a fraud case.

The woman is due to give evidence for the prosecution in the fraud trial of a Muslim college director Anwar Sayed.

Perth District Court Judge Shauna Deane said that … Read more >>>.

Russia hopes to boost economic ties with Pakistan: Medvedev

SOCHI – Russia hopes to develop economic cooperation with Pakistan, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari here on Wednesday.

“We would like to continue cooperating in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and international crimes. That’s why everything we discussed earlier could be continued, even though [we have] good political dialogue, it is …. Read the original article  : Russia hopes to boost economic ties with Pakistan: Medvedev.

International aid not enough to cope with Pak’s catastrophe: UN

NEW YORK – The United Nations (UN) has expressed concern over the slow pace of international aid donations for the Pakistan floods, saying the relief being offered is not sufficient to deal with the country’s worst disaster.

“The scale of the response is still not commensurate with the scale of the disaster of almost unprecedented magnitude,” [..] Read the original article: here.

US fears deluge will allow terrorists to play havoc with its Pak policy

WASHINGTON – The devastating floods in Pakistan , which have been stamped as the country’s worst in the last 80 years, has hit the Obama administration’s strategy concerning the ‘problem country’ hard, American officials have said.

The United States has had to face a tough situation dealing with a weak democratic government and a powerful … Read this article on Gaea Times at : US fears deluge will allow terrorists to play havoc with its Pak policy.

Centre to consider lifting ban on sugar futures : Pawar

NEW DELHI – Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Central Government will consider lifting the ban on sugar futures trading in the first week of September, after assessing its production situation.

The government had banned the trading in sugar futures in May 2009 and the suspension is valid till September 2010.

“I will get … Read more »»».

World Photography Day 2010 Celebrates The Art

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Today the world celebrates the captured moments that rekindles the best memories from the past. August 19 is celebrated as the Word Photography and it is not only an important day for the professional photographer but also for all those who have taken up the camera once in a while … Read more »»».

North Korea confirms it seized SKorean boat, 7 crew, alleges they were fishing in North waters

NKorea confirms it seized South fishing boat, crew

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea confirmed Thursday it seized a South Korean fishing boat more than a week ago and claimed the seven crewmen admitted to fishing in its waters.
South Korea had been pushing for the release of the four South Korean and three Chinese fishermen it …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

12,000 foreign ’sex slaves’ working in British brothels: Report

LONDON – A new report has revealed that up to 12,000 foreign women are being forced to work as ’sex slaves’ in British brothels by gangs running multi-million pound rackets.

According to the report commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), at least 2,600 women were confirmed as being trafficked into England and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 12,000 foreign ’sex slaves’ working in British brothels: Report.

One in five Americans thinks Obama is a Muslim: Survey

WASHINGTON – A new survey has found that nearly one in five Americans incorrectly believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim.

Obama’s religion, like his place of birth, has been the subject of Internet-spread rumours and falsehoods since before he began his presidential campaign.

According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 18 per cent of …. Original article  : One in five Americans thinks Obama is a Muslim: Survey.

Lankan Tamils still under Canadian detention due to documents mix-up

TORONTO – Sri Lankan Tamil migrants, who arrived from the MV Sun Sea in British Columbia last week, are still in detention as their identities are not yet confirmed and they will have to wait until Canadian immigration authorities sift through the documents and belongings inside two U-Haul trucks.

After seizing their belongings, authorities failed to …. Source article  : Lankan Tamils still under Canadian detention due to documents mix-up.

Vuvuzela, chill pill, bromance enter Oxford Dictionary of English

LONDON – The African horn ‘vuvuzela’ has made its way to the Oxford Dictionary of English after becoming the sound of the World Cup.
The word vuvuzela, included in the third edition of the dictionary, has only been used commonly since the summer when the long horn began to be heard at the World Cup matches … Read more : Vuvuzela, chill pill, bromance enter Oxford Dictionary of English.

Omar Abdullah calls Asiya Andrabi a hypocrite

JAMMU – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called Asiya Andrabi, the chief of the separatist Dukhtaran-e-Millat, a hypocrite.

“Andrabi, the Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief, whose son had applied for a passport to study in Malaysia, has been saying that the youth in the valley should give up their studies and make ’sacrifices for the … Read more >>.