Breaking News – Newsletter for November 16, 2010

UK to pay millions to ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees over torture claims

LONDON – Britain would reportedly pay out millions of pounds in compensation to former detainees held in the US military prison at Guant???namo Bay.

Some of the men, who are all British citizens or residents, were detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba. At least six of them alleged UK forces were complicit in …. Source article  : UK to pay millions to ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees over torture claims.

Mulla Umar refused Karzai’s 35,000-govt jobs offer for Taliban fighters

ISLAMABAD – Taliban Supreme leader Mulla Umar has turned down the Afghan government’s offer of 35,000 jobs for his fighters, putting an end to all hopes of a breakthrough between them for possible reconciliation.

Top level US, Afghan, Saudi and Pakistani officials have claimed that all efforts to organise the first-ever direct talks between Taliban and …. Original article  : Mulla Umar refused Karzai’s 35,000-govt jobs offer for Taliban fighters.

Armed Forces: A Pillar In Nation Building

NEW DELHI – The 21st century looks towards security, justice, economic development and a democratic polity as the pillars of nation building. Security comes first in the pecking order because the other three pillars function effectively only if the security of the nation is assured.

In the Indian subcontinent, some armies of neighbouring states,instead of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Armed Forces: A Pillar In Nation Building.

‘Breakthrough imminent” in Indian-origin honeymooning bride’s murder in SA’

LONDON – South African police have reportedly identified the murderer of a British Indian woman, who was killed in Cape Town during her honeymoon.

Anni Dewani and husband Shrien had been married for just two weeks when they were kidnapped by armed men.

Western Cape Minister of Community Safety Albert Fritz has indicated that police had “incredibly … Read : ‘Breakthrough imminent” in Indian-origin honeymooning bride’s murder in SA’.

Virgin boss Branson to dress as AirAsia stewardess after losing bet

KUALA LUMPUR – Virgin Group boss Sir Richard Branson will be dressing up as an AirAsia stewardess after he lost a bet he made during the Formula 1 season.

Branson, 60, lost the bet to Lotus Racing team principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes over which of their teams would do better in the just-concluded Formula [..] Read the original article: here.

Clinton defends US Afghan war strategy after Karzai criticism

WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has defended the US strategy in Afghanistan after Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged Washington to reduce the visibility and intensity of its military operations in his country and end the increased American Special Operations forces night raids that aggravate Afghans and could embolden Taliban insurgents.

“We believe … Original source on Gaea Times at : Clinton defends US Afghan war strategy after Karzai criticism.

Pak won’t open any new front against militants in near future: Kayani

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan will not open any new front until it consolidates gains in the areas already recovered from militants, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reportedly told the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations, Holbrooke had called on Kayani at General Headquarters on …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Hookers for Jesus’ mission to save Las Vegas prostitutes

NEW YORK – A former prostitute in the US has started a faith-based mission, called “Hookers for Jesus”, which is aimed at saving Las Vegas prostitutes.

Annie Lobert, 43, from Minnesota, worked as a Las Vegas hooker for over 10 years, finally leaving the life behind after a near-fatal overdose and repeated physical abuse from violent … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘Hookers for Jesus’ mission to save Las Vegas prostitutes.

Plus-sized women pose nude to raise funds for charity

KUALA LUMPUR – A group of eleven overweight women from Singapore have bared all for a calendar to raise funds for a young Vietnamese leukaemia patient.

Sim, a businesswoman who sells plus-sized clothing over the Internet, brought together 10 large women recently for the black and white photo shoot, according to China Press.

Sim said all the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Plus-sized women pose nude to raise funds for charity.

Missile Strike Kills Militants In Pakistan

MIRANSHAH, NORTH WAZIRISTAN (GaeaTimes.com)- In a recent development that has made sensation in International communities, US drone aircrafts fired a number of missiles in Pakistan’s North Waziristan which is considered to be a big den for the Taliban and AlQaida militants. The regional officials said that the attacks killed at least 20 suspected …. Source  : Missile Strike Kills Militants In Pakistan.

A Chinese city sets rule for burial

BEIJING – A city in China has set burial rules that restrict the space for every tomb in public burial places to no more than one square metre.

According to the rule adopted by Wuhan city government Monday, more non-profit and government-financed burial spaces are planned.
China Daily reported Tuesday that since the city’s …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Younger women regret one-night stands more than their older counterparts

LONDON – A UK survey has revealed how Brit women really feel about one-night stands, and abortion.

The poll asked almost 1,000 women, all of them married or in long-term partnerships, searching questions about every aspect of their intimate lives.

Almost half of women in their 30s (46 per cent) and 40s (45 per cent) have had … Read : Younger women regret one-night stands more than their older counterparts.

Now buy an old, used truck – and get an AK-47 rifle absolutely free!

LONDON – Buy one get one free offers are not uncommon but when you get an AK-47 assault rifle free with used trucks, that’s something to think about.

A car dealer Nations Trucks, in Sanford, Seminole County, is offering an unusual inducement to potential new customers – a free AK-47 assault rifle – and sales have …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Now buy an old, used truck – and get an AK-47 rifle absolutely free!.

Pennsylvania school sued over ‘I (heart) boobies’ bracelet ban

WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania school has been sued for banning ‘I (heart) boobies’ bracelets.

The American Civil Liberties Union says the Easton Area School District ban violates students’ First Amendment rights.

The suit filed Monday says two middle school students received in-school suspensions last month for wearing bracelets that say, “I (Heart) Boobies. Keep a Breast,” reports …. Original source  : Pennsylvania school sued over ‘I (heart) boobies’ bracelet ban.

US envoy says Kashmir a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan

NEW DELHI – Echoing the recent comments made by President Barack Obama, U.S. Ambassador Timothy Roemer, urged India to restart dialogue process with Pakistan.

Speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of a seminar, Roemer asserted increased communication between the two restive neighbours was in the best interests of both nations.

On Kashmir being excluded from the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : US envoy says Kashmir a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

‘Hubby felt powerless over Indian-origin wife’s Cape Town murder during honeymoon’

LONDON – Brit-Indian Shrien Dewani, whose wife was killed on their honeymoon in South Africa, has said for the first time how he felt powerless after the taxi they were travelling in was ambushed by armed men in Cape Town, and pleaded with their kidnappers not to separate him from his wife, but they lied … Read more : ‘Hubby felt powerless over Indian-origin wife’s Cape Town murder during honeymoon’.

“We are closely monitoring corruption in Pakistan”: Holbrooke

ISLAMABAD – The US has its reservations over the growing corruption in Pakistan and is monitoring it closely, the US Special Ambassador for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke has said.

“We are closely monitoring corruption in Pakistan”, The Nation quoted Holbrooke, as saying in an exclusive chat with a TV channel.

He said that the United States … Original source on Gaea Times at : “We are closely monitoring corruption in Pakistan”: Holbrooke.

Home Office stop, search plans are ‘discriminatory and racist’, warns UK watchdog

LONDON – Britain’s Equality and Human Rights Commission has described government plans to allow police to stop people on the grounds of skin colour as discriminatory and amounting to racial profiling.

It wants the plans dropped and has warned there is a high risk that British and European laws will be broken, The Guardian reports on … Read more : Home Office stop, search plans are ‘discriminatory and racist’, warns UK watchdog.

Heroin worth Rs. 25 crore seized in Amritsar

AMRITSAR – Punjab Police have recovered heroin worth Rs. 25 crore and huge cache of arms from Amritsar.

The recovery was made after Punjab Police received specific information that Pakistan-based smugglers were transporting a huge consignment of heroin and arms from the border areas of the region.

Based on those leads, a squad of the Punjab Police …. Read the original article  : Heroin worth Rs. 25 crore seized in Amritsar.

2G scam: CAG report tabled in Parliament

NEW DELHI – The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the 2G spectrum scam was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday even as the opposition continued to demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe.

The upper House was adjourned till 2:00 p.m. immediately after the tabling of the report, while the Lok Sabha was adjourned till Thursday. … Read more : 2G scam: CAG report tabled in Parliament.