Breaking News – Newsletter for January 3, 2011

Adarsh society scam: Former IAS officer Subhash Lalla resigns

MUMBAI – Former IAS officer Subhash Lalla has resigned as a member of Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission following allegations of his involvement in the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam.

Lalla submitted his resignation to Governor K Sankaranarayanan at Raj Bhavan … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Adarsh society scam: Former IAS officer Subhash Lalla resigns.

US Navy probes top officer on aircraft carrier ‘making lewd videos’

LONDON – The US Navy has launched an investigation after it emerged that a senior officer aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier had made a series of raunchy videos and then shown them to his crew.

Capt Owen Honors, who took over as the commander of … Read : US Navy probes top officer on aircraft carrier ‘making lewd videos’.

Octomom not evicted yet from home

WASHINGTON – Nadya Suleman, who earned herself the nickname Octomom after she gave birth to octuplets, has not been evicted from her home as yet.

Amer Haddadin, who owns the disputed LaHabre, CA home, had said he was going to start the eviction process against Suleman, 35, on December 31.

He … Read more »».

Chile hit by 7.2 magnitude earthquake

WASHINGTON – A 7.2 magnitude earthquake has been detected in the Pacific near the central coast of Chile, US authorities have said.

News 24 quoted the US Geological Survey as saying that the earthquake occurred at 20:20 GMT on Sunday, … Original article on : Chile hit by 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

Obama signs 4bn dlrs compensation bill for 9/11 ill rescue workers

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama has reportedly signed into law a bill to compensate emergency workers who fell ill following rescue and clean-up efforts during the 9/11 attacks on New York City.

“We will never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Obama signs 4bn dlrs compensation bill for 9/11 ill rescue workers.

PML-N will bail out PPP coalition govt if no-confidence motion initiated: Shujaat

LAHORE – A no-confidence motion against the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition cannot succeed because the day the initiative is taken, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will bail out the government, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said.

In an interview with The Nation, … Read : PML-N will bail out PPP coalition govt if no-confidence motion initiated: Shujaat.

Iran’s nuclear power plant to go on line in February

TEHRAN – Iran’s nuclear power plant is to be connected to the national electricity network in February, one month later than stated earlier, the country’s Atomic Energy Organisation chief Ali-Akbar Salehi said Monday.

In November, Salehi had said that the Russian-built 1,000-megawatt reactor at Bushehr would be on line by January. The announcement of the … Original article on : Iran’s nuclear power plant to go on line in February.

Afghan transit trade through Gwadar port can boost Baloch economy: Raisani

QUETTA – Afghan transit trade through Gwadar port can boost economic activities in Balochistan, Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has said.

Talking to reporters, Raisani said the transit trade was imperative for sustainable development of the port.

He said he had suggested to British officials that fuel to NATO troops battling the Taliban in Afghanistan should be …. Source  : Afghan transit trade through Gwadar port can boost Baloch economy: Raisani.

Afghan peace delegation to arrive in Pakistan on Jan 5

ISLAMABAD – An Afghan delegation is scheduled to arrive on a three-day visit to Islamabad on January 5, as part of the Afghanistan Government’s efforts to broker peace with the Taliban.

Former Afghanistan President Burhanuddin Rabbani is set to lead a delegation from the Afghan High Council for Peace.

Backed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the High …. Original source  : Afghan peace delegation to arrive in Pakistan on Jan 5.

‘Iranian woman’s ’stoning to death’ sentence could still be quashed’

TEHRAN – A senior judicial official has said that Iranian woman Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s sentence of ’stoning to death’ could be avoided, but certain “ambiguities” still remain in her case.

On being asked whether Ashtiani’s sentence for adultery could be overturned, the head of East Azerbaijan’s judiciary, Malek Ajdar Sharifi, said: “anything is possible.”

News.com.au quoted …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Aarushi murder case: closure report registered in Ghaziabad court

GHAZIABAD – A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ghaziabad on Monday registered the investigating agency’s closure report in the Aarushi Talwar murder case.

Special judge Preety Singh said that the closure will be registered first by the court registrar and then notice to parties involved and cognizance will be taken later.

The …. Source  : Aarushi murder case: closure report registered in Ghaziabad court.

Samy Vellu to begin special envoy duties with India visit this week

KUALA LUMPUR – Samy Vellu, the former Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chief who assumed duties as the country’s special envoy with ministerial rank on infrastructure to India and South Asia on Saturday, would reportedly begin his official tour on Thursday starting with a visit to New Delhi.

Besides India, other South Asian countries under Samy … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Samy Vellu to begin special envoy duties with India visit this week.

Average adult in Britain tells 3 lies a day: Survey

LONDON – The average adult in UK lies three times in a day and it is mostly about their whereabouts, hours of work and household chores, reveals a new study.

More than a third of Brits lie regularly about their workload to make lives easier, a study of 3,000 adults revealed.

The poll also found that …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US ambassador to China Huntsman hints at running for President in 2012

WASHINGTON – Jon Huntsman, the US ambassador to China and a Republican, has hinted that he might contest for the presidential bid in 2012.

“You know, I’m really focused on what we’re doing in our current position,” he said in response to a question about presidential aspirations. “But we won’t do this forever, and I … Read : US ambassador to China Huntsman hints at running for President in 2012.

‘King Con’ claims he earned 2m pound from crime, slept with 2,500 women

LONDON – A conman in Britain, who was nicknamed King Con after he brazenly duped people, has claimed that he had earned 2 million pounds from his life of crime, and slept with 2,500 women.

Paul Bint, 48, who just days after being released from prison has been bragging about his con games, had posed as …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

India to become power surplus nation: Shinde

AGARTALA – Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that India would be a power surplus nation with the addition of 45,000 MW of power during the 12th Five Year Plan period.

“We have added about 44000MW of capacity during the last four-and-a-half years. Last year capacity addition was 9,585MW, which is the highest in …. Read the original article  : India to become power surplus nation: Shinde.

Mohan Bhagwat slams central government

PUNE – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has slammed the Congress led central government for allegedly linking it and other Hindu groups with rising extremism in the country.

Addressing the RSS delegates here, he said that Congress is trying to link up RSS and other Hindu organisations with extremist forces to divert public attention … Original source on Gaea Times at : Mohan Bhagwat slams central government.

Iran to supply 70MW electricity to Afghanistan, Pakistan

TEHRAN – Iran will export 70MW of electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan this Iranian year (which ends on March 20).

Managing Director of Iran’s state-run Power Supply and Distribution Company (TAVANIR) Homayoun Ha’eri said Iran plans to boost power supplies to these two neighbouring countries through its southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan province, Fars news agency reports.

His …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

NATO confirms killing of Taliban Deputy Governor in Afghanistan

KABUL – The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has confirmed that Taliban’s Deputy Governor, Bahadur, has been killed during a combined Afghan and coalition forces operation in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province.

“International Security Assistance Force confirmed Bahadur was killed during a combined Afghan and coalition force operation in Kunduz on December 30,” Xinhua quoted …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NATO confirms killing of Taliban Deputy Governor in Afghanistan.

S. Korea ready for talks with North provided not provoked

SEOUL – South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has said that his country is willing to talk to North Korea over the recent tensions, but added that “any provocation” by Pyongyang will not be tolerated.

“I remind the North that the path toward peace is yet open. The door for dialogue is still open. If the North …. Read the original article  : S. Korea ready for talks with North provided not provoked.