Breaking News – Newsletter for January 14, 2011

Pongal Transport Woes Surface

CHENNAI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The festive occasion of Pongal is only a day ahead and the rush for tickets is quite visible. The occasion is celebrated in South Indian states with much gusto and excitement each year. Sadly, for the people who are scrambling for tickets, most of the trains and buses are full. To …. Source  : Pongal Transport Woes Surface.

Kashmir should decide on armed forces special powers: Pillai

NEW DELHI – The Jammu and Kashmir administration should take a decision on the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives impunity to armed forces in their anti-terror operations, Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said Friday.

“Why cannot the state government take a decision, take a leap of faith and notify …. Read the original article  : Kashmir should decide on armed forces special powers: Pillai.

Stressed out Delhi, where grazing a car hurts the ego

NEW DELHI – Leave your home 15 minutes early for work. If your car is involved in an accident and the other party gets aggressive, apologise. That’s the best way to beat stress and avoid road rage which claims many victims in Delhi, say experts.

It was dj vu for people in Delhi when Rajiv … Original article on : Stressed out Delhi, where grazing a car hurts the ego.

Saudi Arabia looking for Bin Laden’s son-in-law, 47 others

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia is reportedly hunting for 47 al-Qaeda commanders, including Osama Bin Laden’s son-in-law as it sees them as being a ’serious threat to the public’.

All the alleged terrorists are believed to be living outside Saudi Arabia.

Suspect Muhammad Salim Barikan, who was thought to …. Source article  : Saudi Arabia looking for Bin Laden’s son-in-law, 47 others.

Lalgarh killings: Governor Narayanan to visit Netai village on Jan. 19

KOLKATA – West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan is scheduled to visit Lalgarh’s Netai village on January 19 to assess the impact on residents from the recent spate of violence in the area.

It may be recalled that suspected armed CPI-M cadres killed seven villagers in Lalgarh’s Netai … Read more »»».

Indian-origin cabbie Hiren Mohini’s widow ‘confused’ whether to attend trial in China

BEIJING – The widow of Indian-born Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini, who was stabbed to death a year ago, is reportedly facing a dilemma on whether or not to attend her husband’s murder trial in Shanghai.

The man accused of …. Source article  : Indian-origin cabbie Hiren Mohini’s widow ‘confused’ whether to attend trial in China.

Vice President Ansari stresses on “quality agenda” in education

NEW DELHI – Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Friday said that simple, reliable and scientific methods of sampling and assessment on a nation-wide scale are important for highlighting “quality agenda” in education.

Releasing the “Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)- 2010 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Vice President Ansari stresses on “quality agenda” in education.

Makar Sankranti: High Prices Mars Festivities

MUMBAI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Indians are gearing up to celebrate Pongal and Makar Sankranti abiding by the rituals and traditions but this year many families have kept the celebrations low profile. The main reason for this is the high price of the vegetables including onion in most of the states in India. The skyrocketing vegetable …. Original article  : Makar Sankranti: High Prices Mars Festivities.

New Zodiac Signs To Profit Tattoo Parlors?

SAN FRANCISCO (GaeaTimes.com)- Ever since the news of the new changed zodiac has hit the headlines, tattoo parlors owners have re-kindled hopes of huge profits in their business. A well known daily recently shocked many as they reported that zodiac signs with which we identity ourselves is actually wrong. The news source reported the change …. Original source  : New Zodiac Signs To Profit Tattoo Parlors?.

Makar Sankranti: Security Preparations Beefed Up

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The citizens in various states of India are gearing up to celebrate the festive occasion of Makar Sankranti but the security experts are worried that terrorist outfits may use this opportunity to disrupt peace and create trouble in selected states of the country. That explains why the Ministry of Home … Read : Makar Sankranti: Security Preparations Beefed Up.

Ruins of two 4,000-yr-old cities found in central China

NEW DELHI – Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of two ancient cities dating back 4,000 years in central China.

The square-shaped cities, covering an area of 1.68 million sq m, were unearthed in Henan, said Ma Xiaolin, deputy director of the provincial cultural heritage bureau.

One of the cities is believed to be the capital of …. Source article  : Ruins of two 4,000-yr-old cities found in central China.

Pak playing “own little games” in bid to maintain control over Kabul: Editorial

ISLAMABAD – While Pakistan has warned the US against any “new great game” concerning Afghanistan, it itself harbours a desire to maintain control over Kabul by “playing its own little games”, an editorial in a Pakistani newspaper has said.

“During his meeting with the US Vice President [Joe Biden], [Pakistan] Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed … Read : Pak playing “own little games” in bid to maintain control over Kabul: Editorial.

Brit couple die within hours of each other after 70-yrs of wedded bliss

LONDON – A British couple, who was truly devoted to one another, passed away within 11 hours of each other after being married for nearly 70 years.

Bert Swan, 93, passed away from a chest infection in the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, not knowing that his wife Doreen 91, had died earlier in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Brit couple die within hours of each other after 70-yrs of wedded bliss.

Govt. considering troop reduction in Kashmir by 25 percent: Home Secretary Pillai

NEW DELHI – Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai on Friday said the Central Government is contemplating reducing the strength of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir by 25 per cent.

Addressing a symposium on the ‘Way Forward in Kashmir’ organised by the Jamia Millia Islamia University here, Pillai said: “Government of India is hopeful that troops … Read more >>>.

Government may reduce troops by 25 percent in Kashmir

NEW DELHI – The government may reduce by 25 percent the presence of security forces in the populated areas of Jammu and Kashmir in the next 12 months, Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said Friday, announcing a slew of confidence building measures to bring peace in the troubled state.

“We are considering the reduction in the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Government may reduce troops by 25 percent in Kashmir.

Pakistan’s Afghan policy flawed, counterproductive: Ahmed Rashid

LAHORE – Pakistan’s Afghan policy is flawed and has proved to be counterproductive for the interests of the country, veteran journalist and renowned author Ahmed Rashid has said.

Rashid also said it was time to say good-bye to the ‘double game’ that Pakistan had been playing in Afghanistan for a decade.

He made these comments at … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan’s Afghan policy flawed, counterproductive: Ahmed Rashid.

Delhi Metro’s Sarita Vihar-Badarpur line opens

NEW DELHI – The Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) on Friday added another five km to its network by throwing open the Sarita Vihar-Badarpur section of the transit system.

The inaugural run was conducted at 8 a.m. in a stretch comprising three elevated stations-Mohan Estate, Tughlakabad and Badarpur.

A regular schedule will be followed from …. Original source  : Delhi Metro’s Sarita Vihar-Badarpur line opens.

Vibrant Gujarat Summit concludes

AHMEDABAD – Dedicating the fifth Vibrant Gujarat Summit (VGS) to youth and women, Chief Minister Narendra Modi has said the state would soon lead india’s economic development and also compete with the developed nations.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the VGS here, Modi said the investor event was not for industries alone. The event will … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Vibrant Gujarat Summit concludes.

Onions from Pakistan arrive in Gujarat’s Mundra Port

MUNDRA – About 300 tons of onions have reportedly arrived from Pakistan at Gujarat’s Mundra Port.

Port officials speaking on condition of anonymity said that the onions from Pakistan had arrived in response to the Indian Government’s request to Pakistan a couple of days ago to resume onion exports.

Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar had earlier said that …. Source article  : Onions from Pakistan arrive in Gujarat’s Mundra Port.

Two Maoists surrender in Visakhapatnam

VISAKHAPATNAM – Two functionaries of the banned CPI Maoists, including a woman, surrendered before the District Rural Police Superintendent here on Thursday.

District Police Superintendent Vineet Brijlal said the surrendered ultras – V Somaraju alias Sekhar and K Kanthamma alias Santhi alias Syamala had joined the outfit in 2004. Both were involved in several incidents of …. Original article  : Two Maoists surrender in Visakhapatnam.