Breaking News – Newsletter for January 26, 2011

Texas restaurant to forgo plan to serve lion-meat tacos after threats

WASHINGTON – A restaurant in Arizona has decided to give up its plan to serve lion-meat tacos, and cited safety concerns and following threats from angry protestors as the reason.

Boca Tacos y Tequila, a Tucson Tex-Mex joint had in … Read more »»».

Fonseka loses MP seat appeal as Sri Lankan SC rules court martial legal

COLOMBO – Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka has lost a Supreme Court appeal to retain his parliamentary seat.

Citing the September court martial ruling that found him guilty of corruption in defence deals, the …. Source  : Fonseka loses MP seat appeal as Sri Lankan SC rules court martial legal.

Chinese gay rights defender to sue newspaper for reporting male couple wedding

NEW DELHI – A gay rights defender in China has vowed to sue a Beijing newspaper after it reported the “wedding” of a male couple without their permission.

According to Xinhua, the gay rights defender, Xiao Dong, said that the Beijing Times reporter was unethical in … Original article on : Chinese gay rights defender to sue newspaper for reporting male couple wedding.

UK to outline changes in controversial terrorism laws

LONDON – The British Government is to outline a controversial reform of control orders for terrorism suspects, following a review of security laws.

Home Secretary Theresa May is expected to announce significant changes, and coalition ally – the Liberal Democrats – … Read more »».

Baroness Ashton’s plunging neckline covered up by Iranian media

LONDON – EU foreign minister Baroness Ashton’s plunging neckline was covered up by Iranian censors in newspapers that reported top-level talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.

While newspapers carried reports of the talk, held in Istanbul, which ended in impasse, the picture showing Baroness Ashton, 54, wearing a low-cut …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Baroness Ashton’s plunging neckline covered up by Iranian media.

Army’s Dare Devils display spell-binding two-wheeler stunts

NEW DELHI – Over 100 Indian Army signalmen displayed breathtaking daredevilry on their well-tuned motorcycles on the capital’s main thoroughfare, raising the adrenaline flow of thousands watching the Republic Day parade Wednesday.

The men from the Corps of Signals, in keeping with their motto of being swift and vigilant, displayed a series of stunning …. Source  : Army’s Dare Devils display spell-binding two-wheeler stunts.

Malaysia urged to speed up changes to Internal Security Act

PETALING JAYA – Malaysia should expedite its amendments to the Internal Security Act (ISA) and other laws that are considered restrictive, says Human Rights Watch in its latest report.

The New York-based international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights, said in its World Report 2011 released on Monday that there were restrictions … Original article on : Malaysia urged to speed up changes to Internal Security Act.

5 in 10 Americans see healthcare reform unfavorably

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration’s healthcare reforms has attracted an unfavorable response from at least five in ten Americans, according to a joint survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Opposition to the law jumped nine percentage points from last month and is the highest since April, when Kaiser … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 5 in 10 Americans see healthcare reform unfavorably.

Malaysian Sikh sets record for longest stint as TV news presenter

KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian Sikh has set a new record as the ‘longest serving television news presenter’ after working 38-years with RTM.

Harjit Singh Hullon, 57, who said that it has always been his dream to appear on television, was awarded the title by the Malaysia Book of Records on January 25.

“Ever since the first …. Original article  : Malaysian Sikh sets record for longest stint as TV news presenter.

US will not relent or waver, but ‘defeat’ al Qaeda and affiliates: Obama

WASHINGTON – The United States will relentlessly fight the ongoing war against terrorism until it defeats al Qaeda and their affiliates, President Barack Obama has said.

“We have sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: we will not relent, we will not waver, and we will … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US will not relent or waver, but ‘defeat’ al Qaeda and affiliates: Obama.

American optimism surges to nearly a four-year high

WASHINGTON – American optimism has surged to nearly a four-year high – jumping 14 points in the past month alone, a poll released Tuesday suggests.

Forty-three percent of Americans surveyed by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation this weekend said they think things are going well in the country, up from 29 percent in December, Politico reports.

Five percent said …. Original source  : American optimism surges to nearly a four-year high.

Australians warned not to travel to terror risk Ethiopia

CANBERRA – The Australian Foreign Ministry has warned the country’s citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Ethiopia, East Africa, in the wake of reports of a possible terrorist attack.

“According to credible information, extremists are planning to bomb unspecified locations within Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the African Union Summit,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted …. Original source  : Australians warned not to travel to terror risk Ethiopia.

Moscow airport bombers were part of suicide squad trained in Pakistan: Report

MOSCOW – The suicide bombers who carried out the Moscow airport attack were probably part of a suicide squad trained in Pakistan’s al-Qaeda strongholds.

A newspaper close to Russia’s FSB security service published what it claimed was a warning issued in December to the Moscow police, which said there was credible intelligence that a suicide squad …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Gujarat observes 10th anniversary of 2001 earthquake

BHUJ – As the nation celebrates its 62nd Republic Day on Wednesday, people here observed the 10th anniversary of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake that killed around 30,000 people.

The city has, however, witnessed rapid development in these ten years. New building, shopping malls, apartments have been constructed in the city.

Hospitals and schools have been developed and … Read more >>.

NATO to begin ‘new phase of campaign’ in Afghanistan after 2014 transition: Official

HELSINKI – A senior NATO official has claimed his organisation and the countries taking part in operations in Afghanistan would not leave the country even after handing over security responsibilities to Afghan forces in 2014.

NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Mark Sedwill made the remarks at a joint press conference with Finnish Foreign Minister … Original source on Gaea Times at : NATO to begin ‘new phase of campaign’ in Afghanistan after 2014 transition: Official.

Queen’s fax to guests: Keep April 29 free for Royal wedding

LONDON – Those who have been invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding have received a fax from the Queen, instructing them to keep themselves free on 29th April this year.

A St James’s Palace aide said, “The Lord Chamberlain’s Office does give a heads-up to royal families first, in line with protocol,” reports the …. Original article  : Queen’s fax to guests: Keep April 29 free for Royal wedding.

UK’s MI6 prepared Palestine Authority’s security strategy against Israel

LONDON – The Palestinian Authority’s security strategy to crush Hamas and other armed groups on the West Bank was originally drawn up by Britain’s intelligence service, MI6, papers leaked by Al-Jazeera TV reveal.

According to The Guardian, the MI6 strategy included internment of leaders and activists, closure of radio stations and replacement of imams in mosques … Read more : UK’s MI6 prepared Palestine Authority’s security strategy against Israel.

IAF combat planes set capital’s skies ablaze

NEW DELHI – Indian Air Force (IAF) front line fighter jets, including Russian-origin Sukhois and MiG-29s and Anglo-French Jaguars, Wednesday set the capital’s skies ablaze with their flying display during the Republic Day parade here.

The star attraction at the 28-aircraft flying display was the Sukhoi air superiority fighter jets — the most potent … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : IAF combat planes set capital’s skies ablaze.

Obama’s three State of the Union decent jokes

WASHINGTON – In a mostly serious State of the Union speech, US President Barack Obama managed to make three pretty funny jokes. Here they are, in order:

On new technology: “Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the …. Source  : Obama’s three State of the Union decent jokes.

India unveils LCA at R-Day parade

NEW DELHI – India Wednesday unveiled for the first time at its Republic Day parade its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft that obtained its initial operational clearance to be fully airworthy Jan 10 this year.

The aircraft’s trainer version, which has two-seat tandem configuration, is derived from the fighter version that the Defence Research and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : India unveils LCA at R-Day parade.