Soon, non-lethal weapons to tackle Kashmir rioters

SRINAGAR – Police and paramilitary forces deployed in the Kashmir Valley are set to change from lethal to non-lethal weapons like Taser guns, pellets and pepper balls after 62 civilians lost their lives in the ongoing unrest. But their efficacy is still in question.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) plane brought an assortment of non-lethal weapons …. Original source  : Soon, non-lethal weapons to tackle Kashmir rioters.

Malaysian women in their 20s now clamouring for Botox

KUALA LUMPUR – An average of five Malaysian women visit a plastic surgeon every week to give their faces a more ‘feminine’ shape.

However, the shocking fact is that rather than the middle-aged, it is women in their 20’s who ask for botulinum toxin …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Michelle Obama’s portrait to be placed at Smithsonian’s National Gallery

WASHINGTON – The portraits of US First Lady Michelle Obama and business magnate Martha Stewart would be reportedly placed at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

A New York-based artist Mickalene Thomas has crafted the portrait of Michelle Obama.

Obama’s …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Michelle Obama’s portrait to be placed at Smithsonian’s National Gallery.

WWI postcard: Germans demonised Scottish, Indo-Chinese and Sikhs as savage barbarians

EDINBURGH – A military historian, Matthew Low, has unearthed German propaganda postcard of the First World War which shows how the Kaiser’s army demonised Scottish soldiers and Indo-Chinese and Sikhs as savage barbarians.

Among those demonised also include Arabs and Africans.

“I was very excited to discover this card. It is a rare … Read more »»».

Oz World Vision Chief accuses Aussies of having “compassion blind spot” for Pak flood victims

WASHINGTON – World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello has said that Australians have a “compassion blind spot” when it comes to the Pakistan floods.

World Vision has raised about 785,000 dollars in the three weeks for the Pakistan disaster.

“A humanitarian disaster of this size anywhere else would have had, in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Oz World Vision Chief accuses Aussies of having “compassion blind spot” for Pak flood victims.

10-month-old Chinese baby weighs the same as a 6-yr-old

NEW DELHI – A Chinese baby, who is just ten months old, has become so chubby that he now weighs the same as a six-year-old child.

Lei Lei has been nicknamed ‘the Michelin Baby’ after tipping the scales at 20kg.

His mother Cheng Qingyu says that her son was a normal …. Read the original article  : 10-month-old Chinese baby weighs the same as a 6-yr-old.

British pop singer commits suicide at 22

LONDON – A British pop singer has apparently killed himself by leaping from a satellite mast.

Charles Haddon, 22, frontman for Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, had just played at the gig in Belgium on Friday.

He was said to be ‘very down’ after the gig at the … Original source on Gaea Times at : British pop singer commits suicide at 22.

‘Ground Zero’ imam on Mideast tour to ‘Americanize’ Islam

WASHINGTON – In the midst of the controversy, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the organizer of the planned Muslim community center and a mosque in Ground Zero in Manhattan, is undertaking taxpayer-funded trip to the Middle East to spread good will and “Americanize” Islam.

According to The New York …. Source  : ‘Ground Zero’ imam on Mideast tour to ‘Americanize’ Islam.

Yet another day of shutdowns, restrictions in Kashmir

SRINAGAR – Curfew continued in summer capital Srinagar, south Kashmir Bijbehara and north Kashmir Trehgam towns Sunday amid another shutdown called by separatists in the valley. Authorities are likely to lift restrictions from many places.

“Curfew is continuing in nine police station areas in Srinagar city, Bijbehara and Trehgam towns while restrictions are in place in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Yet another day of shutdowns, restrictions in Kashmir.

NCC cadets clean up oil spill off in Mumbai

MUMBAI – The National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets conducted a clean-up operation on the mangroves, which were all but destroyed due to the recent oil spill off the coast of Mumbai.

Around 300 cadets on Saturday tried to clean up the mangroves off the …. Original source  : NCC cadets clean up oil spill off in Mumbai.

GJM leader Nicole Tamang flees from CID custody

DARJEELING – Nicole Tamang, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leader and the prime accused in killing of Madan Tamang, president of All India Gorkha League (AIGL), escaped from CID custody in Darjeeling’s Pintail Village on Sunday.

Nicole Tamang was being held at a CID camp near Siliguri … Read : GJM leader Nicole Tamang flees from CID custody.

‘Impotent’ Pak Govt. powerless to stop ‘terror outfit’ JuD’s ‘charity’ rampage

LONDON – Mocking the ban imposed by the Pakistan government on it, the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD), the charity wing of the dreaded terror group-Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is running relief camps in the flood-hit north western part of the country and providing the victims food, medicines and money.

The JuD, under … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Impotent’ Pak Govt. powerless to stop ‘terror outfit’ JuD’s ‘charity’ rampage.

Sweden withdraws rape warrant against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange

LONDON – Swedish authorities have withdrawn an arrest warrant against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, stating that the accusation of rape against him was unfounded.

“I don’t think there is reason to suspect that he has committed rape,” The Telegraph quoted Chief Prosecutor Eva Finne, as saying while announcing the withdrawal … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sweden withdraws rape warrant against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Israel says Iran’s nuclear programme ‘totally unacceptable’

LONDON – Israel has said that the fuelling of Iran’s first nuclear reactor is “totally unacceptable” and urged greater world pressure to force Tehran to stop any further uranium enrichment.

Iranian engineers reportedly began loading fuel into the country’s …. Original source  : Israel says Iran’s nuclear programme ‘totally unacceptable’.

Britain’s favourite countryside poems stirs controversy

LONDON – A search for Britain’s favourite poem on the countryside has stirred a controversy as it has left out literary icons like Shakespeare and Wordsworth.

The National Trust has shortlisted 10 poems that include lesser known poems but has omitted those of William Shakespeare and William Wordsworth, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Jo Bell, a poet … Read : Britain’s favourite countryside poems stirs controversy.

Tharoor-Pushkar tie knot in Kerala

PALAKKAD – Former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor on Sunday tied nuptial knots with his friend Sunanda Pushkar in a traditional Malayali wedding at his ancestral house in Palakkad.

Tharoor, tied the ‘thali’, symbolising the marital bond as per the Hindu custom, amid …. Read the original article  : here.

A comprehensive documentation of India-UAE ties (IANS Book Review)

Book: “India and the UAE: In Celebration of a Legendary Friendship”; Author: Venu Rajamony; Publisher: Indian Expressions Management Consultancy

Ties between India and the Arabian Gulf are now over 5,000 years old. The Gulf is today home to around five million expatriate Indians. Of them, around 1.5 million reside in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and … Read more »»».

Gunmen, Mexican police battle in Ciudad Juarez; 1 killed as El Paso shuts border highway

1 dead in Mexico shootout on border with El Paso

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – A shootout between Mexican police and gunmen has killed one person in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.
Federal police spokesman Ramon Salinas says three municipal police officers were wounded.
The gunbattle lasted more than 20 minutes Saturday night on the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Gunmen, Mexican police battle in Ciudad Juarez; 1 killed as El Paso shuts border highway.

Egyptian official retracts statement, says stolen van Gogh not recovered, search continues

Search still on for van Gogh painting in Egypt

CAIRO – Egypt’s culture minister has retracted his statement that a stolen Vincent van Gogh painting has been recovered. He says authorities have in fact not found the missing artwork, and that the search for the painting continues.
The minister, Farouk Hosni, appeared on television and said his … Original source on Gaea Times at : Egyptian official retracts statement, says stolen van Gogh not recovered, search continues.

Blagojevich compares himself to a superhero during appearance at Chicago Comic Con

Ex-Gov. Blagojevich appears at Chicago Comic Con

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich compared himself to a superhero as he stood alongside folks dressed as Superman and Batman at the Chicago Comic Con.
Blagojevich said Saturday at the show in suburban Chicago that he draws inspiration from the superheros as he faces his own battles.
He … Original article on : Blagojevich compares himself to a superhero during appearance at Chicago Comic Con.