Breaking News – Newsletter for January 18, 2011

Brit mum left horrified as singing toy puppy starts swearing

LONDON – A woman in Britain, who bought a singing toy puppy for her baby daughter, revealed that she was left horrified when it started swearing.

Leigh McPherson, 20, of Banbury, Oxon, said the cuddly My Pal Violet toy started swearing when she pressed its paw to trigger its first song.

“If you’re happy and you know … Original article on : Brit mum left horrified as singing toy puppy starts swearing.

Rahul Gandhi arrives in Lucknow with huge security

LUCKNOW – Following the controversy that there was a security breach during Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Uttar Pradesh, close to a hundred policemen and a vehicle armed against riots escorted him when he arrived here today on a two-day visit.

The Centre has sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh Government … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Rahul Gandhi arrives in Lucknow with huge security.

Pakistan’s terrorist sanctuaries “rich hunting ground” for US: NYT

WASHINGTON – Pakistan’s refusal to launch a military operation in North Waziristan to hit the terrorist sanctuaries on its northwest border may have created a magnet there for hundreds of Islamic fighters, which has a positive side for the United States.

A growing number of senior US intelligence and counterinsurgency officials say that by bunching up …. Read the original article  : here.

‘Octomom’ whips diaper-clad man in fetish video offered for sale

MELBOURNE – Nadya Suleman a.k.a. ‘Octomom’ is featured in a fetish video that is being offered for sale, whipping a man wearing a diaper.

According to TMZ.com, in the video Suleman, 35, is seen wearing a black corset and black leggings, while the man is featured wearing a bonnet on his head along with the diaper.

The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘Octomom’ whips diaper-clad man in fetish video offered for sale.

Most Americans disapprove of Palin’s response to Arizona shootings: Poll

WASHINGTON – Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s response to the Arizona shootings has been slammed by Americans, including most of her supporters, with a latest poll saying that 46 percent of respondents disapproved of her way of handling the outcry.

Only 30 percent of respondents approved of her way of handling the outcry, the ABC News-Washington …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Most Americans disapprove of Palin’s response to Arizona shootings: Poll.

Time to call off the separatist bogey (Analysis)

NEW DELHI – The cold wave in Kashmir, with the temperature going south, icy winds and snowfall does not leave much scope for physical activity. Nevertheless, politics have not taken a backstage and the spate of agitations that were witnessed in the months gone by have been replaced by a spate of political statements made … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Time to call off the separatist bogey (Analysis).

Cheney believes Obama will only serve one term as president

VIRGINIA – Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has reiterated his belief that President Obama will serve just one term.

“I think his overall approach to expanding the size of government, expanding the deficit, and giving more and more authority and power to the government over the private sector is a lack of-sort of a feel … Original source on Gaea Times at : Cheney believes Obama will only serve one term as president.

Heavy Snowfall Arrests Japan

TOKYO, JAPAN (GaeaTimes.com)- The harsh winter is not only affecting the USA and European countries, the Asian countries are also bearing its brunt. Japan is reeling under heavy snowfall which has thrown public life out of gear for the last few days. Since Sunday some parts of Japan have got 8 feet of snow. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Heavy Snowfall Arrests Japan.

Choppers, anti-mine vehicles to aid BSF troopers

AGARTALA – To further strengthen vigil along the border with Bangladesh, India’s border troopers are to use Dhruv light helicopters, mine protected vehicles (MPV) and other modern gadgets and devices, a top Border Security Force (BSF) officer said here Tuesday.

“Considering the vulnerability and other security perceptions, we have to strengthen the surveillance along the … Read more >>.

Now, families of Air India bomb blast victims ask for memorial in India

TORONTO – Families of crew members who died in the 1985 mid-air bomb explosion aboard an Air India flight have asked for the wreckage to be sent back to India for a memorial to commemorate the tragedy.

“As you are aware that Canada and Ireland have built four memorials and one memorial respectively, but we have … Original article on : Now, families of Air India bomb blast victims ask for memorial in India.

Blasphemy accused Pak-Christian woman may be shifted to women-only jail for safety

LAHORE – Aasia Bibi, the Pakistani-Christian woman sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, may be shifted to an all-women prison due to security concerns.

The Punjab government is likely to shift Aasia from Sheikhupura district jail to an all-women jail in Multan, The Express Tribune reports.

The transfer will take place at night under heavy security within …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Blasphemy accused Pak-Christian woman may be shifted to women-only jail for safety.

China’s uranium shortage likely to end by 2021

BEIJING – The state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation has predicted that uranium shortage for nuclear reprocessing technology may end by 2021.

It will take at least a decade for China to start the large-scale industrial application of spent fuel reprocessing technology, which may be the solution to the supply shortage, the CNNC said on Monday.

The …. Source  : China’s uranium shortage likely to end by 2021.

Awlaki’s latest fatwa calls for destruction of buildings

NEW YORK – The latest edition of al Qaeda’s English-language web magazine “Inspire” offers readers a new fatwa from American-born jihadi leader Anwar al-Awlaki on how to destroy buildings using gas lines, and a primer on the AK-47 rifle.

A young American citizen from North Carolina named Samir Khan apparently began editing and publishing the on-line …. Original article  : Awlaki’s latest fatwa calls for destruction of buildings.

Obama may be more assertive during meeting with Hu

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama is likely to be more assertive with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, when the latter visits Washington later this week, American officials have said.

The decision follows Obama being criticised for his benevolence during his 2009 visit to China, and for allowing Beijing to gain the upper hand against … Read : Obama may be more assertive during meeting with Hu.

China to test endurance of its astronauts in space

BEIJING – China plans to test the endurance of its astronauts in space through long-term missions.

According to the China Daily, the aim is to establish the astronauts’ operational and decision-making abilities in space, along with any psychological and physical changes they undergo while living in cramped compartments in weightless conditions.

The research findings will play a … Read : China to test endurance of its astronauts in space.

Iran hanged 47 people in past three weeks: HR groups

TEHRAN – Iran has hanged nearly 50 people during the past three weeks, human rights groups have claimed.

The Guardian quotes the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) as saying that 47 prisoners, an average of about one person every eight hours, has been executed since the beginning of 2011.

This revelation came …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Iran hanged 47 people in past three weeks: HR groups.

American Qaeda leader Al Awlaki urging followers to steal funds, property from West

LONDON – Followers of Anwar Al-Awlaki, a rising leader of the Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda, are being told to steal, embezzle and seize property, especially from Americans, in order to finance their jihad.

While Muslim teaching generally forbids theft, the new edition of Inspire magazine is now telling followers that such crimes are justifiable, especially … Read more »».

‘Granite stitching’ saves 1,250-yr-old Indian temple from collapse

LONDON – A 1,250-year-old temple in the southern part of India, which was in total ruins with dense vegetation growing over its dome, has been stitched back together.

The Kailasanathar Temple in Uthiramerur, Tamil Nadu, built during the Pallava King Dantivarman regime, was saved from collapse using ‘granite stitching’.

Sathyamurthy of the REACH Foundation, an archaeologist and …. Source  : ‘Granite stitching’ saves 1,250-yr-old Indian temple from collapse.

Michelle Obama celebrates her birthday

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama celebrated her birthday with a quiet dinner on Monday.

The two went to Wolfgang Puck’s The Source restaurant, located in the same building as the Newseum, according to a pool report.

“POTUS and FLOTUS were seen briefly on their way in to the restaurant, and POTUS … Read more : Michelle Obama celebrates her birthday.

Berlusconi’s Milan housing complex branded a ‘whore house’

LONDON – Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi’s Milan housing complex has been branded a ‘whore house’, say prosecution documents sent to parliament.

The politician is already under investigation on suspicion of paying for sex with one of his guests, Karima el-Mahroug, a Moroccan belly dancer known as Ruby Rubacuori, when she was 17 – an offence under …. Read the original article  : Berlusconi’s Milan housing complex branded a ‘whore house’.