Breaking News – Newsletter for December 12, 2010

Sunday, December 12, 2010

South Korea to conduct maritime firing drills

SEOUL – The South Korean military is to carry out firing exercises around the country’s three coastlines, but would avoid the islands close to the disputed maritime border with the North, officials were quoted as saying Sunday by a news report.

The drills were planned for Dec 13 to 17 all around the South’s …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Minneapolis Airport Shut For Snowstorm

MINNEAPOLIS (GaeaTimes.com)- The incessant snowfall and accompanying blizzard forced the authorities to shut down operations at the Minneapolis Airport on Sunday and this led to a huge number of flight cancellations. The passengers were stranded at the airport and the weather office also did not give any positive news. The airport cleaning crew simply …. Original article : Minneapolis Airport Shut For Snowstorm.

Brit-Indian honeymooner denies link to 2007 killing in South Africa

LONDON – Shrien Dewani, the Brit-Indian millionaire who has been arrested on suspicion of having his wife killed during their honeymoon in Cape Town, has denied doubts raised by South Africa’s police chief that he was involved in another murder three years back.

South African national commissioner general Bheki Cele reportedly said police were investigating … Read : Brit-Indian honeymooner denies link to 2007 killing in South Africa.

Dozens of suspected Afghan insurgents killed in latest NATO operations

KABUL – At least 40 suspected insurgents were killed in a spate of rare wintertime clashes in Afghanistan, including an airstrike which killed 25 people, NATO officials said.

NATO’s statement, issued late Saturday, provided few details about the latest deadly military operations that preceded the airstrike in the Nari district of Konar province.

An air weapons …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Home Secretary pressed to halt anti-Muslim US preacher’s visit to UK

LONDON – UK Home Secretary Theresa May is reportedly under immense pressure to halt a visit by anti-Muslim US preacher Terry Jones’, who had threatened to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 this year, to Britain after far-right activists said he had agreed to address them at a demonstration about “the … Original article on : Home Secretary pressed to halt anti-Muslim US preacher’s visit to UK.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to hold talks with Pak Taliban for VC’s release

PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has fully authorised KP Governor Awais Ahmed Ghani to hold talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for safe release of Islamia College University Vice Chancellor Ajmal Khan, who is a cousin of the Awami National Party (ANP) chief, Asfandyar Wali Khan.

ANP sources revealed the KP government had sought the … Read more »»».

Embarrassed Congress distances itself from Digvijay Singh’s remarks on Karkare

New Delhi, Dec.11/12 (ANI): An embarrassed Congress has chosen to distance itself from party general secretary Digvijay Singh’s controversial comments that he had a conversation with former Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare shortly before he was killed by terrorists on 26/11.

Karkare had apparently told Singh that he feared for his safety from … Original article on : Embarrassed Congress distances itself from Digvijay Singh’s remarks on Karkare.

Stockholm twin blasts leave one dead, two injured

STOCKHOLM – At least one person was killed and two others were injured in twin explosion in central Stockholm in Sweden on Saturday, causing panic among Christmas shoppers.

The Guardian quoted a Swedish news agency as saying that it had received an email warning, ahead of the explosions, in which a threat made against Sweden and … Read more : Stockholm twin blasts leave one dead, two injured.

Huge cache of arms, explosives seized in West Bengal

WEST MIDNAPORE/ PURULIA – The paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and West Bengal police have seized a huge cache of arms and explosives from Maoist infested Jhargram area in West Midnapore District.

Two SVBL guns, one Bulgarian 8 mm pistol, a country made pistol and a large number of explosives were seized during the operation.

“The … Original article on : Huge cache of arms, explosives seized in West Bengal.

Obama tells Turkish president that WikiLeaks release are ‘deplorable’

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Barack Obama has offered his strongest condemnation yet of whistle blowing web site WikiLeaks’ “deplorable” documents dump.

In a call to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Obama “expressed his regrets for the deplorable action by WikiLeaks.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, both leaders agreed the leaks will not influence or disrupt [..] Read the original article: here.

Fake WikiLeaks: Pakistan news agency editor sacked

ISLAMABAD – Siddique Sajid, editor of Pakistan’s Online news agency, has been sacked after it published a fake WikiLeaks report that New Delhi allegedly played a role in destabilizing the country’s Balochistan province.

Online editor-in-chief Mohsin J. Baig, soon upon his return from Turkey where he had accompanied Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani during his … Read : Fake WikiLeaks: Pakistan news agency editor sacked.

WikiLeaks ‘rape’ victims had hidden agendas, claims Assange’s lawyer

LONDON – In an exclusive interview, the lawyer of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has said that he had seen secret police documents that prove his client is innocent of rape claims made against him by two Swedish women.

Bjorn Hurtig, who is representing Assange in Sweden, said the papers, which form part of the official Swedish … Read more >>>.

Putin shows off his musical prowess at charity event

LONDON – It seems there is no end to Vladimir Putin’s talents.

The Russian Prime Minister, already known as an accomplished fighter-jet pilot and Siberian tiger-hunter, sprang a surprise last week with his rendition of ‘Blueberry Hill’ at a charity event in St Petersburg.

On Friday, the 58-year-old former KGB chief also stunned an audience that included …. Source : Putin shows off his musical prowess at charity event.

Wills, Kate ‘brimming with happiness’ in engagement pics

LONDON – Prince William and Kate Middleton look very much in love in official photos released to mark their engagement.

Celebrated fashion photographer Mario Testino, who took the pics, described the couple as “brimming with happiness” during the photo shoot in the Council Chamber in the State Apartment in St James’s Palace.

The two portraits, one formal …. Original source : Wills, Kate ‘brimming with happiness’ in engagement pics.

Bernard Madoff’s Son Dead

NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com)- Mark Madoff, the son of Bernard Madoff, who was arrested two years ago on charges of security fraud was found dead at his home on Saturday. The law enforcement officials say that he apparently hanged himself in his condo in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. Martin Flumenbaum, the attorney of his family said …. Source : Bernard Madoff’s Son Dead.

7.6-bn-dollar TAPI gas pipeline accord inked

ASHGABAT – Pakistan has joined India, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan in signing the long awaited over 7.6-billion-dollar gas pipeline project to help meet its sharply rising industrial and domestic demands.

Almost 15 years after the project was envisioned, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Indian Petroleum Minister Murli Deora … Read : 7.6-bn-dollar TAPI gas pipeline accord inked.

UK’s top tax official’s ???6K 4-night stay at Indian hotel for 30min speech

LONDON – Britain’s top tax official, who visited India to attend a conference and deliver a speech lasting just half an hour, enjoyed a four-night stay in a luxury hotel- at a cost of thousands of pounds to the taxpayer.

Dave Hartnett, Permanent Secretary for Tax at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, flew business … Read more »»».

‘We want to ensure that 26/11 is not repeated,’ says Merkel

Berlin, Dec.11/12 (ANI): German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday, in no uncertain terms, castigated Pakistan for using terror as a tool to fulfill its political objectives.

Addressing a joint press conference with visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Merkel said Germany would extend its fullest cooperation to India in battling militancy.

“India is suffering as a consequence …. Original article on Gaea Times at : ‘We want to ensure that 26/11 is not repeated,’ says Merkel.

No trust deficit between India, Germany on high technology transfer: Merkel

BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday said there was no trust deficit between Germany and India on the issue of high technology transfer.

Responding to a question from this reporter during a joint press interaction with visiting Indian Prime Minister … Read : No trust deficit between India, Germany on high technology transfer: Merkel.

India to host Year of Germany in 2011 to mark 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties

BERLIN – Germany will organize a Year of Germany in India beginning September 2011 to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, said visiting Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Saturday.