Breaking News – Newsletter for January 12, 2011

Briton’s love affair with marmalade fast shifting to peanut butter, chocolate spread

LONDON – Traditional British preserve marmalade, which used to be a favourite breakfast staple, is fast losing its place on the table as more people prefer peanut butter and chocolate spread.

According to sales figures, marmalade is losing its charm along with honey, … Read more : Briton’s love affair with marmalade fast shifting to peanut butter, chocolate spread.

UN-backed project to conserve Buddha’s birthplace underway

NEW YORK – An international team of archaeologists has begun a three-year survey, coordinated by the UNESCO, of the ruins of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal.

The survey on Lumbini, a world-renowned Buddhist pilgrimage destination, has been funded by the Japanese …. Source article  : UN-backed project to conserve Buddha’s birthplace underway.

UK cops couldn’t comment on Asian sex gangs for fear of appearing racist

LONDON – Police in Britain have revealed that they could not speak out about the Asian sex gangs working in UK because they were afraid of appearing “institutionally racist”.

Mick Gradwell, a former detective superintendent, said the targeting of underage and vulnerable … Read more : UK cops couldn’t comment on Asian sex gangs for fear of appearing racist.

North Korea soldiers chase defectors into China to kill

LONDON – In a rare cross-border pursuit, North Korean troops chased their seven defectors into China and shot five of them dead, the Daily Mail reported here.

According to South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, five were shot dead by North Korean border guards and two were wounded and taken back to North Korea.
The North … Original source on Gaea Times at : North Korea soldiers chase defectors into China to kill.

China’s rights ‘action plan’ falls short of fulfilling promises: HR watchdog

BEIJING – China’s National Human Rights Action Plan of the past two years has led to ‘a series of unfulfilled promises,’ Human Rights Watch has said.

The Christian Science Monitor quoted the Human Rights Watch report as saying that over the past two years, when the National Human Rights Action Plan (2009-2010) was in force, … Original article on : China’s rights ‘action plan’ falls short of fulfilling promises: HR watchdog.

Gorkhaland demand revived in Darjeeling

DARJEELING – Normal life in Darjeeling came to a halt on Wednesday as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) began the first phase of shutdown.

Streets in Darjeeling, as well as sub-divisions of Kalimpong and Kerseong wore a deserted look and shops remained shut as GJM activists marched on roads, shouting slogans for the creation of Gorkhaland.

Activists …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

UK slams Obama’s ‘France is America’s biggest ally’ comments

WASHINGTON – British political observers have criticised US President Barack Obama’s recent statement that France is America’s biggest ally, warning that such a message can undermine American-British ties.

“We don’t have a stronger friend and stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French people.” Obama said during a meeting with French President Nicolus Sarkozy in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Jihadi media is booming in Pakistan

KARACHI – The media is viewed by terrorist organisations as one of the fronts of jihad against their enemies.

Activists and supporters of jihadis favour the media platform, both the print and the electronic media, as also the Internet.

According to the Daily Times, Jihadis disseminate their message via various websites, magazines and disks in …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Jihadi media is booming in Pakistan.

Over four in ten Americans say politics motivated attack on US Congresswoman

NEW YORK – Forty-five percent of Americans, or over four in ten, believe that Jared Loughner’s political views were “probably” a factor in leading him to shoot a US Congresswoman and others in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday.

According to a new CBS News poll, one in three say they probably were not a factor, while 22 … Read more >>.

American politics must change after Arizona gun attack, says Bill Clinton

Port-au-PRINCE – Former US President Bill Clinton has said that the political climate in the United States must change in the wake of the shooting of a US Congresswoman and others in Arizona.

“No one intends to do anything that encourages this sort of behaviour, but political rhetoric falls on the unhinged and the hinged alike,” [..] Read the original article: here.

State Emergency Leads To School Closings In New York

NEW YORK CITY (GaeaTimes.com)- Following the declaration of a state emergency schools and colleges in New York have also declared for dismissal of classes. The National Weather Service on Tuesday announced that a major snow storm is likely to hit the state on Wednesday. The snow storm is expected to dump in atleast 8 to …. Original source  : State Emergency Leads To School Closings In New York.

Scant facilities for teachers and children in Assam

GUWAHATI – Hundreds of street children and teachers of Jyoti Kendra Programme under the Assam Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (ASSA) are demanding proper facilities.

Children said they have not been provided with proper infrastructural facilities and not even proper uniforms.

“Till date, not even a single student has been provided a table or a chair. Some sit on … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Scant facilities for teachers and children in Assam.

Health ministers confer at Hyderabad

HYDERABAD – The Ministers and Secretaries of health and medical education departments from different states of India are meeting here today.

About 25 Ministers and Secretaries of health and medical education are scheduled to take part in the two-day conference, which will be inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Union Minister … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Health ministers confer at Hyderabad.

‘China’s military hardware development not aimed at any other country’

BEIJING – Guan Youfei, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Defense Ministry, has said that his country’s military hardware development is not aimed at any other country.

“The development of China’s military hardware is not aimed at any other country or any specific target and the timing was a matter of routine working [..] Read the original article: here.

Biden says US troops could stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 if asked

KABUL – US Vice President Joe Biden has pledged that his country would continue to help Afghanistan beyond the 2014 target, which was set by both countries to have Afghan forces fully in charge of their own security.

During his visit to the war-torn country, Baiden reportedly toured a training academy for Afghan soldiers, had lunch … Original article on : Biden says US troops could stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 if asked.

Army Chief appears before PAC

NEW DELHI – Army Chief V K Singh on Wednesday appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in connection with alleged irregularities in the canteen stores supplies.

The PAC had called the chiefs of the three services – the Army, the Air Force and the Navy – for a hearing after a Comptroller and Auditor … Read more >>>.

Five police officers transferred for hampering Taseer killing probe

RAWALPINDI – The Pakistan Government has ordered the transfer of five police officers who it felt were hampering investigations into the assassination of former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

According to the Daily Times, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Hamid Mukhtar Gondal transferred the head of the CPO office, Abid Shah, to the Establishment Branch for creating hurdles … Read more >>>.

After Labor leadership defeat, David Miliband signs up for Sunderland FC

LONDON – Since younger brother Ed Miliband defeated him to win the Labour Party leadership, former British foreign secretary David Miliband has left everyone guessing about what he would be doing next.

The man seen as the ultimate political geek has now reportedly left everyone surprised by taking a job at a football club.

The Daily Mail …. Original article  : After Labor leadership defeat, David Miliband signs up for Sunderland FC.

Jindal is cracking down on fake bath salts used by drug dealers

LOUISIANA – What could possibly be menacing about bath salts? Well, if you are the Indian-origin Governor of the American state of Louisiana, the issue is actually more than serious than it sounds.

According to Politico, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has had his office put out a press release announcing that drug dealers are using …. Source  : Jindal is cracking down on fake bath salts used by drug dealers.

‘Hugely embarrassing’ film on Sarkozy to show rise to power, divorce

LONDON – A new ‘hugely embarrassing’ film will depict French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s life, right from his rise to power to the day his previous wife left him.

Called ‘The Conquest’, the film is written by historian and screenwriter Patrick Rotman and is the first ever movie about a French president and will portray his rise … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Hugely embarrassing’ film on Sarkozy to show rise to power, divorce.