Breaking News – Newsletter for January 2, 2011

17th SAARC Summit to take place in Maldives

NEW DELHI – The 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit will be held on November 10-11 in Maldives.

According to Sunday’s The Kathmandu Post, citing the economic slowdown, the Maldives had earlier skipped hosting the 16th SAARC Summit. Later, Bhutan did the honors.

In a … Original source on Gaea Times at : 17th SAARC Summit to take place in Maldives.

Iran’s ’stoning to death’ woman brought out for dinner with children following son’s appeal

TEHRAN – Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery charges, was taken out on prison leave to have dinner with her daughter and son, hours after he had appealed to the judiciary to spare her life.

Her [..] Read the original article: here.

Brits welcome 2011 nursing hangover of the decade

LONDON – New Year’s Eve turned into a mess for Britain after millions drowned to gallons of wine, beer and champagne in pubs and clubs throughout the country.

Things got so bad that members of the armed forces had to put up Territorial Army hospital tents as revelers downed 300 million pounds of booze, reports the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mile High’s ’sex flights’ grounded after safety concerns

LONDON – An airline that lets couples join the Mile High club has been grounded after safety concerns were expressed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mile High Flights, based in Gloucestershire, has been giving couples the chance to make love in the clouds for 640 pounds for the last two years, but has been refused a … Read more : Mile High’s ’sex flights’ grounded after safety concerns.

Many Britishers of Indian descent awarded New Year British honors

NEVADA – Various Britishers of Indian descent have made the list for New Year British honors “for making difference in the community”.

Indira Patel has received DBE for “services to Human Rights”.

Ravi Parkash Chand (Equality and Diversity Head at Home Office) and Minaxi Sharad Desai (Cytopathologist and Clinical Director) have received CBE.

Nirpal Singh Riat (for services … Original article on : Many Britishers of Indian descent awarded New Year British honors.

Now for 15, pounds get catch a glimpse of Will, Kate’s romantic London!

LONDON – Do you wish to see where Prince Charles bought that ring for Princess Diana? Or where Prince William climbed on to a nightclub table and yelled ‘I’m free’ after he dumped Kate in 2007?

Well, now just for 15 pounds, you can.

Newcastle University film and philosophy graduate James Bonney’s company Celebrity Planet has launched … Read more : Now for 15, pounds get catch a glimpse of Will, Kate’s romantic London!.

At 12, he is newspaper editor, reporter and publisher

ALLAHABAD – He is all of 12 years but Utkarsh Tripathi painstakingly brings out a handwritten newspaper every week to spread awareness among his peers on issues like the environment and female foeticide. And all this to satisfy his urge to “serve the country”.

A Class 8 student of the Brij Bihari Sahai (BBS) Inter … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : At 12, he is newspaper editor, reporter and publisher.

PML-N hints at legal action against MQM members for “bad-mouthing” its leadership

KARACHI – The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is contemplating legal action against the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) parliamentarians, who were involved in “bad-mouthing and using unparliamentary language” against the PML-N leadership.

On Wednesday, leaders of both parties indulged in a mud-slinging bout, and did not even refrain from using abusive language and profanities against each other, besides …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Indian-origin bride Anni ‘wanted to tell something’ before being murdered in SA’

LONDON – The father of Anni Dewani, the Indian-origin bride who was killed during her honeymoon in Cape Town, has said that she wanted to tell him something urgent hours before her murder.

“She said ‘Dad, I have so much to tell you, I’ll be home on Tuesday and I’ll have so much to tell …. Read the original article  : ‘Indian-origin bride Anni ‘wanted to tell something’ before being murdered in SA’.

Antony to lay foundation stone of India’s first defence ship building institute

NEW DELHI – To enhance self reliance in warship production capabilities of India, Defence Minister AK Antony will lay the foundation stone of the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH) on Tuesday in Calicut.

NIRDESH would concentrate on enhancing self-reliance in production capabilities relating to all kinds of warships, submarines and …. Original article  : Antony to lay foundation stone of India’s first defence ship building institute.

Duchess of York bans skiing for daughters

LONDON – The Duchess of York has banned her daughters from taking their annual family skiing holiday as she fears one of the family might break a limb before Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.

Sarah Ferguson was supposed to go to the exclusive resort of Verbier in Switzerland with her two daughters to celebrate former … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Duchess of York bans skiing for daughters.

Pope urges Christians to remain ’strong’ following Egypt church blast

LONDON – Pope Benedict XVI has urged Christians to remain strong after a car explosion outside an Alexandria church in Egypt killed at least 21 worshipers yesterday.

“In the face of the threatening tensions of the moment, especially in the face of discrimination, of abuse of power and religious intolerance that today particularly strikes Christians, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pope urges Christians to remain ’strong’ following Egypt church blast.

West Bengal failed to meet social security target, says Buddhadeb

KOLKATA – West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said the state government has failed to achieve its target to include the maximum number of unorganized workers in the social security schemes.

Addressing a gathering of skilled and unskilled workers here on Saturday, Bhattacharjee said: “Efforts should be made to get unorganised labourers from various sectors … Original article on : West Bengal failed to meet social security target, says Buddhadeb.

Post New Year’s Day, 7 in 10 Brits claim of plan to lose weight

LONDON – A new survey has revealed that after the merriment of Christmas and New Year’s Day, seven in 10 Britons claim they have a plan to lose weight.

The research was commissioned by weight-loss company Thinking Slimmer.

Brits spend half as much again on losing the festive flab as they splurge on piling it on …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Post New Year’s Day, 7 in 10 Brits claim of plan to lose weight.

SA Judge in Brit-Indian honeymooner’s trial dodged by controversy

CAPE TOWN – The family members of Shrien Dewani, the Brit-Indian millionaire accused of conspiring to have his wife killed during their honeymoon in Cape Town, have expressed fears that he would not receive a fair trial in South Africa after it emerged that the judge presiding over the case has been dogged by misconduct … Read more >>>.

Pakistani Hindu families demand bill on marriage registration

ISLAMABAD – Families of the Scheduled Caste Hindus in Pakistan have demanded of the government that the Hindu Marriage Registration Bill should be passed by Parliament as early as possible.

Women belonging to Scheduled Caste Hindus from Sindh and Southern Punjab converged in front of the National Press Club on Saturday, and held a protest demonstration … Read more : Pakistani Hindu families demand bill on marriage registration.

UK’s 999 crews took 800 calls from drunken revelers on New Year’s Eve!

LONDON – New Year’s Eve may be the most pleasant night for many but Brit emergency servicemen weren’t lucky enough to enjoy it.

It was the busiest ever night for London ambulance crews, with staff struggling an average 11 calls a minute from drunken revelers in the wee hours.

By 4am, operators had answered 2,639 emergency calls, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : UK’s 999 crews took 800 calls from drunken revelers on New Year’s Eve!.

Prince William and Kate wedding ‘wide open to terror attack’

LONDON – Grapevine has suggested that Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton is wide open to a terror attack.

It has been revealed that London’s Westminster Abbey has shocking security lapses that could leave William, Kate, the Queen, Prime Minister David Cameron and a host of royals and VIPs exposed to a terror bomb outrage.

The security …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US drones killed 2,043 people, mostly civilians, in Pak during last five years

ISLAMABAD – As many as 2,043 people, mostly civilians, were killed in US drone attacks in northwestern parts of Pakistan during the last five years, a research has revealed.

The yearly report of Conflict Monitoring Centre (CMC) has termed the CIA drone strikes as an ‘assassination campaign turning out to be revenge campaign’, and showed that … Read : US drones killed 2,043 people, mostly civilians, in Pak during last five years.

Gujjar agitation enters 14th day

JAIPUR – The Gujjar agitation over demand of five per cent reservation entered its 14th day on Sunday.

Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla refused to attend a fresh invitation for talks, saying he first wants to know the outcome of talks between Congress leaders of his community and the Rajasthan government.

“I am waiting for their … Original article on : Gujjar agitation enters 14th day.