Breaking News – Newsletter for January 9, 2011

Gabe Zimmerman Killed In Arizona Shooting

TUCSON (GaeaTimes.com)- Known by friends and colleagues as friendly, dedicated and good humored, Gabe Zimmerman, 30, succumbed to the mass killing that took place in Tucson, Arizona. He was one of the six people who lost their lives in the shooting. Gabe Zimmerman, was a dedicated aide and friend of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who … Read : Gabe Zimmerman Killed In Arizona Shooting.

Oz woman’s excuse for drink driving – her cat was hungry

SYDNEY – A Victorian woman, who was caught drink driving, defended herself by saying that she was on her way home after buying her hungry cat some food.

The 27-year-old from Mudgegonga was pulled over by Yackandandah police in Victoria’s northeast on Saturday night, reports the Sydney …. Original article  : Oz woman’s excuse for drink driving – her cat was hungry.

Girls lead the binge-drinking culture in New Zealand

WELLINGTON – More and more girls are joining the binge-drinking culture and ending up in hospital in New Zealand, it has been revealed.

A pilot programme in Wellington by the Ministry of Health has provided a better picture of the impact of the country’s drinking culture.

The new … Read more »»».

David Miliband approaches BBC for a TV role

LONDON – In a surprise move, Labour leadership candidate David Miliband is reportedly considering a role in television apparently with the intention of splashing water on brother Ed’s hopes that he can be persuaded to join the shadow cabinet.

Miliband has … Original source on Gaea Times at : David Miliband approaches BBC for a TV role.

Pakistan aims to double trade with China in ’shortest possible time’

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has underlined the need for doubling trade with China from current seven billion dollars to 15 billion dollars in the shortest possible time.

Talking to a visiting 100-member Chinese youth delegation, Gilani said 36 projects had been identified …. Source  : Pakistan aims to double trade with China in ’shortest possible time’.

Peace Mumbai, Indian Muslim intellectuals condemn Taseer’s killing

LAHORE – ‘Peace Mumbai’ activists and Indian Muslim intellectuals have strongly condemned the brutal assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and expressed their apprehensions over growing religious intolerance in Pakistan.

Taseer was murdered for taking a principled stand on the controversial blasphemy law…Rising religious …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Rahul Gandhi to visit Uttar Pradesh from Monday

LUCKNOW – Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will undertake a two-day visit of Uttar Pradesh from Monday during which he is expected to visit five districts and interact with college students.

National Student Union of India (NSUI) State President Rahul Rai said Gandhi will be visiting …. Source  : Rahul Gandhi to visit Uttar Pradesh from Monday.

India’s own fighter jet Tejas to join air force Monday

BANGALORE – India’s long-delayed, indigenously-developed, multi-role combat aircraft Tejas will join the Indian Air Force (IAF) Monday for initial operational clearance (IOC) in this aerospace hub.

Considered to be the world’s smallest military aircraft with a single seat, Tejas will form a 200-strong fleet for the IAF to replace the ageing Russian made MiG-21 fleet, … Read more >>>.

Polish housewives strip for calendar to help sick child

WARSAW – A group of eleven housewives in the Polish city of Lodz have shed their embarrassment and their clothes for a noble cause – to raise money for a sick child.

Four-year old Julia Koper was born with a mysterious genetic disorder which left her both physically and mentally disabled, requiring a special walker …. Original article  : Polish housewives strip for calendar to help sick child.

Pakistan seeks German defence equipment to enhance counter-terrorism capacity

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has asked Germany to allow the export of its defence equipment so that Islamabad can increase its capacity to fight terrorists.

“Pakistan urges Germany to liberalise its export control policy towards it so that we could get export licences for defence equipment … to enhance our capacity to counter terrorism,” the Dawn quoted …. Read the original article  : here.

Vodafone mobile records leaked

LONDON – Criminal groups have paid for the private details of some Vodafone customers to blackmail them. Other people have obtained logins to check their spouse’s communications.

The personal details, accessible from any computer because they are kept on an Internet site rather than Vodafone’s internal system, include numbers dialed or texted, plus the time and …. Source article  : Vodafone mobile records leaked.

Orissa Police gun down nine Maoists in Rayagada encounter

RAYAGADA – Orissa Police gunned down nine Maoists during an encounter in Rayagada District on Sunday morning.

“The gun battle took place in Kashipur-Kalyansinghpur border area, after the police conducted a raid following information about presence of the ultras there,” said Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj.

“Bodies of nine rebels and some weapons and explosive materials …. Source article  : Orissa Police gun down nine Maoists in Rayagada encounter.

Channel 4 show that teaches teens Kama Sutra positions labelled ‘porn’

LONDON – Britain’s leading broadcasting watchdog has labelled a television show, designed to teach teenagers Kama Sutra positions, as ‘porn’.

The controversial series ‘The Joy Of Teen Sex’ appearing on Channel 4 goes out after the watershed on January 19 and contains graphic images of lesbian sex and also offers a ‘guide to anal sex’.

Mediawatch … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Channel 4 show that teaches teens Kama Sutra positions labelled ‘porn’.

Jack Straw under fire over Pakistan ‘easy meat’ remark

LONDON – A prominent UK politician has been accused of ’stereotyping’ a whole community after suggesting that some British Pakistani men regard white girls as ‘easy meat’ for sexual abuse.

Jack Straw, a former foreign secretary and home minister, expressed his concerns on Friday after two men of Asian-origin who raped and sexually assaulted girls in …. Original source  : Jack Straw under fire over Pakistan ‘easy meat’ remark.

Indo-Pak Foreign Secretaries likely to meet in Thimphu next month

NEW DELHI – Foreign Secretary Nirupama Roa is likely to meet her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Standing Committee meeting on February 6 and 7.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesman in response to a question on the issue confirmed that Nirupama … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Indo-Pak Foreign Secretaries likely to meet in Thimphu next month.

Oz considering banning electronic tickets, automatic baggage check-ins over security reasons

MELBOURNE – In a latest move on the crackdown of the airport security, Australia could soon ban electronic tickets and automatic baggage check-ins, and bar non-passengers from entering terminals.

According to news.com.au, a rough design of the strict new security measures is being thrashed out by federal authorities worried about the ease with which criminal gangs … Read more : Oz considering banning electronic tickets, automatic baggage check-ins over security reasons.

Blasphemy Law bill should ‘immediately be withdrawn’ from Pak NA: JUI-F

KARACHI – Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has asked the Pakistan Government to withdraw a private bill seeking an amendment to the country’s Blasphemy Law.

“A private bill tabled in National Assembly seeking amendment in Blasphemy Law should immediately be withdrawn,” Geo News quoted Fazl, as saying, at a press conference in Karachi after …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Zardari likely to appoint former AG Latif Khosa as Punjab Governor

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to appoint former Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa as the new Punjab Governor, according to Advisor to the President Qayyum Soomro.

The decision was taken after considering various names for the vacant post, and the notification is expected to be issued by Sunday (today), Soomro told Express … Read : Zardari likely to appoint former AG Latif Khosa as Punjab Governor.

Indian in UK claims diplomatic immunity to escape prosecution for ‘attack’ on wife

LONDON – A high-ranking Indian diplomat in the UK has claimed immunity from prosecution after being quizzed by police over allegations that he attacked his wife at their official residence.

Anil Verma-India’s trade ambassador to the UK-allegedly assualted his wife after a heated argument.

Police were called to the couple’s home in Golders Green, North-West London, last …. Original source  : Indian in UK claims diplomatic immunity to escape prosecution for ‘attack’ on wife.

‘I wouldn’t have left a dog to die like that,’ says uncle of murdered Indian origin bride

LONDON – The uncle of Anni Dewani, the Indian-origin bride who was killed in her honeymoon in Cape Town, has dismissed Shrien Dewani’s earlier claims that he was pushed out of the hijacked car’s window before his wife was shot dead, and asked why he failed to ‘put up a fight’ to save her.

“It is …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘I wouldn’t have left a dog to die like that,’ says uncle of murdered Indian origin bride.