Breaking News – Newsletter for January 4, 2011

No visible planning for Pak though ICC World Cup only few months away: Abdul Qadir

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan spin legend and former chief selector Abdul Qadir rues that there is no “visible planning” for Pakistan for the forthcoming ICC World Cup 2011.

“The World Cup is a few months away but there isn’t any visible planning for Pakistan,” PakPassion.net quoted Qadir, as saying.

“Even now … Read more >>>.

At least five children injured in school bus bomb attack in Balochistan

QUETTA – At least five children were wounded when a bomb explosion tore through a school bus in insurgency-hit Balochistan on Tuesday.

Police and military officials said the bus was taking over 30 children of paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) fathers to a school … Original article on : At least five children injured in school bus bomb attack in Balochistan.

Released former LTTE members facing rehabilitation problems in society

COLOMBO – Sri Lankan authorities have said that there have been problems rehabilitating ex-Tamil Tiger fighters into society.

The BBC quoted them as saying that some of the former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters have been taken back in for police questioning after being … Read : Released former LTTE members facing rehabilitation problems in society.

Pak sessions court remands Shahzain Bugti to judicial custody

QUETTA – Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) leader Shahzain Bugti and his 26 security guards, who were arrested last month for allegedly carrying a huge cache of arms and ammunition, have been remanded to judicial custody by a judicial magistrate.

Shahzain’s case was earlier transferred from an anti-terrorism court …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pak sessions court remands Shahzain Bugti to judicial custody.

The New Year baby who came into the world at 11.11 1.1.11!

LONDON – Meet Baby Rose Gretton, who was born 11.11 on 1/1/11.

She was also one of 11 babies born on the first day of 2011 at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.

“With her being born at 11.11am on the first of the first, 2011, she’s got all the ones. My mother and I … Original source on Gaea Times at : The New Year baby who came into the world at 11.11 1.1.11!.

Anglo-Indian heroine of Churchill’s spy squad to be honoured

LONDON – Noor Inayat Khan, who joined former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s sabotage force, the Special Operations Executive (SOE), at the height of the second World War, and was the first female radio operator sent into France, with the famous instruction to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Anglo-Indian heroine of Churchill’s spy squad to be honoured.

Taj Mahotsav to focus on Ghalib, Mir

AGRA – The ten-day heritage festival Taj Mahotsav, beginning Feb 18, will focus on doyens of Urdu poetry Mirza Ghalib and Mir Taqi Mir, an official here said.

The festival, which began in 1993 as a tourism promotion initiative, has over the years shrunk into just a local fair, with foreign tourists largely keeping away … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Taj Mahotsav to focus on Ghalib, Mir.

‘Donald Duck’ to go to court over ‘groping’ claims

LONDON – A woman in the US has been told by a judge that she can sue Disney over claims that a staff member dressed as Donald Duck groped her at a theme park.

April Magolon, 27, says she was holding her child at Disney’s Epcot theme park in Florida when the employee grabbed her breast …. Original source  : ‘Donald Duck’ to go to court over ‘groping’ claims.

Brit couple ‘abused own children online for international paedophile ring’

LONDON – A British couple, who allegedly abused their son and daughter online while others watched, has been arrested after police smashed an international paedophile ring.

The two, who have not been named, were running an “open naturist” website for parents who also abused their children, the Daily Mail reported.

According to the Herald Sun, the pair …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Brit couple ‘abused own children online for international paedophile ring’.

Iran denies WikiLeaks report that Ahmadinejad was slapped by Guards chief

TEHRAN – Iran has denied a WikiLeaks report that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was slapped by the chief of the country’s Revolutionary Guards in January last year.

During an interview with Iran’s Fars news agency, the Guard spokesman, Ramezan Sharif, reportedly claimed that the publication of the cable was part of a plot by the … Original article on : Iran denies WikiLeaks report that Ahmadinejad was slapped by Guards chief.

US downplays Pak political crisis’ impact on war against terrorism

WASHINGTON – Downplaying the impact of the ongoing Pakistan political crisis on the war on terror, the US State Department has said it is closely watching the “political challenge” within the coalition government, “but meanwhile we’re focused on our long-term partnership with Pakistan.”

In a daily press briefing, when asked if the US had “absolutely no …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

PML-Q won’t blackmail beleaguered PPP-led Pak coalition govt: Shujaat

ISLAMABAD – The PML-Q will not blackmail the PPP-led Pakistan coalition government since it does not believe in following such policies, PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain has said.

Talking to media persons after meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Shujaat said he had promised conditional support to him, provided that the government would ensure good governance … Read more »»».

Cylinder blast causes roof collapse in Delhi, five injured

NEW DELHI – A cylinder blast in a west Delhi home caused its roof to collapse this morning, injuring five people.

The incident took place in at 6.55 a.m. in House number WZ-114 in Naraina locality.

“Five members of the same family including three children have been injured and are hospitalised. The condition of one of … Read more : Cylinder blast causes roof collapse in Delhi, five injured.

Musharraf says his party is prepared for early Pak polls

DUBAI – Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said his newly formed party is prepared for possible early elections.

His comments came at a time when the federal government in Islamabad is scrambling to save its ruling coalition, following its key ally Muttaheda Qaumi Movement’s decision to sit on opposition benches in parliament.

Musharraf, who launched the …. Read the original article  : Musharraf says his party is prepared for early Pak polls.

China’s next President Xi is man with “average intelligence”, “boring”

BEIJING – A close friend Xi Jinping, who almost certain to take over as China’s president from Hu Jintao in 2012, has reportedly told US diplomats that Jinping is a man with only “average intelligence” and added that women find him “boring”, according to the leaked secret US diplomatic cables released by ‘Wikileaks’.

The … Read more : China’s next President Xi is man with “average intelligence”, “boring”.

Temperature In Delhi Going Downwards

DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The cold wave that has gripped the Northern states of India is taking its toll on the capital of India as well. The residents of Delhi are shivering in extreme cold and the abysmally low temperature in the city has made life tougher for the poor. The thick fog that is … Original source on Gaea Times at : Temperature In Delhi Going Downwards.

Delhi court to decide on CBI’s closure report in Bofors case

NEW DELHI – After an income tax tribunal tracked down the money trail in the Bofors scandal, a Delhi court will today decide whether the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should withdraw its case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in Bofors pay-off case or not

The CBI in its plea said that continued prosecution of Quattrocchi … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi court to decide on CBI’s closure report in Bofors case.

Russia recruits ex-criminals to fill vacant posts in Interior Forces

KABUL – The Russian Interior Ministry had reportedly given a green signal to recruit ex-criminals to fill the vacant positions, after the number of conscripts recruited for the country’s Interior Forces failed to reach the requirement.

Xinhua quoted a source from the ministry as saying that said the campaign on recruitment that ended on December … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Russia recruits ex-criminals to fill vacant posts in Interior Forces.

Karzai’s spokesman to resign soon

KABUL – Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman, Waheed Omer, has declared his intention to resign from the post soon, adding that his motive for such a step is purely personal and not political.

“To be clear, I have been thinking about this for some time. There is nothing that relates this to a political issue,” … Read more : Karzai’s spokesman to resign soon.

‘Iran’s move to invite EU members except America to nuke facilities a ‘ploy’: US

WASHINGTON – The Unites States has criticised Iran for inviting Russia, China and several European Union members to visit its nuclear facilities this month, while excluding America, and called it a “clever ploy” to divide the alliance of nations opposed to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“There’s no invitation in our in-box,” The New York Daily … Read more >>>.