Breaking News – Newsletter for December 14, 2010

Pak issues demarche to French, German envoys over ‘terror’ remarks against nation

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Foreign Office has conveyed its disappointment over the reported remarks of French President Nicholas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the envoys of the two countries.

Both ambassadors were summoned to the foreign office and told of the government’s and the Pakistani public’s …. Read the original article  : here.

Baby boy named after Zardari dies

QUETTA – A baby boy named after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, has died of a severe chest infection in a government hospital. He was nine months.

According to The Nation, the boy was born in a motor rickshaw, which was denied passage to … Original article on : Baby boy named after Zardari dies.

Tibet to start its first expressway by May next year

LHASA – Tibet is in the final phase of completing its first expressway, a four-lane road linking Lhasa’s city and Gongkar Airport, and is expected to resume its services in six months.

Xinhua quoted Li Dingkun, leader of the construction team, as saying that …. Read the original article  : Tibet to start its first expressway by May next year.

‘Chinese Premier’s visit to India will smoothen two nations’ trade ties’

BEIJING – Senior Chinese officials have said that Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to India this week would pave the way for a number of commercial deals, which would eventually smoothen trade relations between the two emerging economies.

Wen is scheduled to visit India from December 15 to 17 before …. Source article  : ‘Chinese Premier’s visit to India will smoothen two nations’ trade ties’.

Advani hits back at PM for parliamentary session washout

NEW DELHI – Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani on Tuesday lashed out at the Congress-led UPA Government for the Winter Session of the Parliament ending without conducting any business.

Addressing media here on the demand for a Joint …. Original article  : Advani hits back at PM for parliamentary session washout.

Ahmadinejad shows whose boss by sacking Iran’s foreign minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has fired Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki at a key moment in the country’s nuclear talks with the West.

It comes just days after Iran held crunch talks in Geneva on December 6 and 7 with world powers over its controversial nuclear dossier. Further talks …. Source  : Ahmadinejad shows whose boss by sacking Iran’s foreign minister.

UK’s drive of reaching out to Muslims made ‘little progress’: WikiLeaks

LONDON – The United Kingdom made “little progrss” in reaching out to Muslim communities despite investing “considerable time and resources” after the 7/7 London bombings in 2005, according to classified US diplomatic cables released by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

According to the … Read : UK’s drive of reaching out to Muslims made ‘little progress’: WikiLeaks.

Owning suicide bomber exposes Pakistan: Indian Army chief

NEW DELHI – Army chief General V.K. Singh said Tuesday the Pakistan Army had exposed its “intentions” by owning up and hailing as a martyr an ISI suicide bomber who died in an Indian hospital in 2007.

“I have nothing to say on what they (the Pakistan Army) has put up on its website. … Read : Owning suicide bomber exposes Pakistan: Indian Army chief.

Chernobyl: Upcoming Tourist Hotspot?

CHERNOBYL, UKRAINE (GaeaTimes.com)- Ukraine government has said that it is going to make the restricted Chernobyl power plant adjacent regions into tourist hotspots. In 1986 the Nuclear reactor at the power plant exploded killing 32 workers and many others later succumbed to the radiation related ailments and infections. The Chernobyl disaster is remembered …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chernobyl: Upcoming Tourist Hotspot?.

Tallest Mountain In Africa Thwarts Martina Navratilova

NAIROBI, AFRICA (GaeaTimes.com)- Legendary tennis player Martina Navratilova’s attempt to climb the tallest mountain in Africa namely Mount Kilimanjaro turned out to be partially successful as she had to quit the ride midway owing to health problems. She was admitted to a hospital in Nairobi after recovering from pulmonary edema which was caused by …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tallest Mountain In Africa Thwarts Martina Navratilova.

Now, ‘Brit Govt websites could be hacked in Wikileaks revenge attacks

LONDON – Britain’s national security adviser has warned that Wikileaks supporting computer hackers could target sites containing British taxpayers’ data.

The Telegraph quoted Sir Peter Ricketts as telling senior civil servants that Whitehall should be prepared to come under fire from “hacktivists” who are …. Source article  : Now, ‘Brit Govt websites could be hacked in Wikileaks revenge attacks.

German man castrates 17-yr-old daughter’s 57-yr-old beau with bread knife

SYDNEY – A man in Germany became so enraged with his daughter dating a man 40 years older than her that he castrated the boyfriend with a bread knife.

According to the Telegraph, Helmut Seifert, 47, had complained to the police in Bielefeld, north-west Germany, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : German man castrates 17-yr-old daughter’s 57-yr-old beau with bread knife.

US envoy pays tribute to Holbrooke

NEW DELHI – United States Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer, today paid tribute to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, whom he described as a consummate diplomat and a close friend, who dedicated his almost fifty years of public service to bringing peace to the world.

Ambassador Roemer remembered Ambassador Holbrooke as a tireless worker with boundless energy … Read : US envoy pays tribute to Holbrooke.

New Japanese defense strategy to focus more on China, N. Korea

TOKYO – Japan’s proposed new military plan will be designed to address the increased threat from China.

According to the Washington Post, Japan’s National Defense Program Guidelines will be released this month.

The guidelines are expected to de-emphasize the concern about a Russian invasion from the north, and instead will call for mobile units to move …. Source article  : New Japanese defense strategy to focus more on China, N. Korea.

Minneapolis Public Schools Shut

MINNEAPOLIS (GaeaTimes.com)- With the heavy blizzard that parts of the U.S. state of Minnesota has been experiencing for the past few days, many public schools in the various districts have been shut owing to the unfavorable weather conditions. Over the weekend, the city of Minneapolis encountered heavy snowfall which dumped as much as 17 … Original source on Gaea Times at : Minneapolis Public Schools Shut.

Vitamin D deficiency widespread across India

WASHINGTON – The results of various studies show severe Vitamin D deficiency across India and Pakistan in all age groups, as well as insufficiency in populations of South-East and East Asia.

Bone health experts attending the 1st Asia-Pacific Osteoporosis Meeting in Singapore this week have flagged vitamin D deficiency as a major concern in the region, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Unlawful killing of newborns ‘5 times higher than thought’

LONDON – A new research has found that the true incidence of neonaticides – the unlawful killing of a baby within the first 24 hours of its life – is more than five times as common as official estimates suggest.

Low maternal self esteem and emotional immaturity, rather than obvious mental illness or social disadvantage, are …. Source article  : Unlawful killing of newborns ‘5 times higher than thought’.

Incarcerated Madoff will not attend son’s funeral, says lawyer

NEW YORK – Ponzi king Bernie Madoff will not attend his son Mark’s funeral.

Instead Bernie, who is serving a 150-year prison sentence at a federal prison in North Carolina, will mourn privately in his prison cell, reveals his lawyer.

“Mr. Madoff will not be attending the funeral out of consideration for his daughter-in-law’s and grandchildren’s privacy,” … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Incarcerated Madoff will not attend son’s funeral, says lawyer.

The slightly less Leaning Tower of Pisa after 8-year makeover

LONDON – The Leaning Tower of Pisa finally got its beauty back after it was cleaned and partially straightened in an eight-year restoration project.

Restorers used chisels and hi-tech laser technology to scrub grime from the more than 24,000 blocks of stone that make up the 183ft tall tower, reports the Telegraph.

The world famous monument …. Read the original article  : The slightly less Leaning Tower of Pisa after 8-year makeover.

Wikileaks founder Assange appeals for his release in UK

LONDON – ‘Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange, who was arrested in the London for sexually assaulting two women during his stay in Sweden, has reportedly appealed to the Westminster magistrates court to release him

The Guardian quoted Raj Joshi, a former head of the European and international division at the CPS, and an expert on extradition, …. Original article  : Wikileaks founder Assange appeals for his release in UK.