Breaking News – Newsletter for February 1, 2011

Freed American female hiker summoned to Iran to stand trial over spying charges

TEHRAN – Sarah Shourd, An American woman who was released last year after spending 14 months in an Iranian jail, has been asked to stand trial in Tehran over spying charges.

Shourd and two American men were arrested by Iranian border guards in the country’s north in July 2009.

The BBC quoted Iran’s judiciary spokesman Gholam … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Freed American female hiker summoned to Iran to stand trial over spying charges.

South Korea rejects North Korea’s call to bring military talks forward

SEOUL – South Korea has rejected a proposal by North Korea to bring forward military talks by 10 days, saying it was not enough time to prepare for their first dialogue since the latter’s shelling of a border island last year.

Pyongyang sent a message to Seoul at the weekend calling for the preliminary talks, … Read more : South Korea rejects North Korea’s call to bring military talks forward.

Libya trade loss fears led British ministers to back Lockerbie bomber’s release: Wikileaks

LONDON – Britain would have suffered a setback in its political and economic ambitions in Libya if the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, was not released from a Scottish prison, according to latest revelations by Wikileaks.

“The consequences if Megrahi were to die in prison or if the transfer under the Prisoner Transfer Agreement were denied …. Source  : Libya trade loss fears led British ministers to back Lockerbie bomber’s release: Wikileaks.

US stands by double murder-accused US diplomat’s action as ’self defence’

WASHINGTON – The United States has defended the action of a US diplomat, who shot two persons to death at Mazang Chowk in Lahore last Thursday, saying that he had acted “in self defence when confronted by two armed men on motorcycles”.

“In our view, he acted in self defence when confronted by two armed men … Read more >>.

One killed in NATO oil tanker attack in Pak’s Balochistan province

QUETTA – In the latest attack on convoys in Pakistan carrying supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan, unidentified men opened indiscriminate fire at a NATO oil tanker in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Tuesday, killing two persons.

According to Levis Force, the tanker was en route to Afghanistan from Karachi when armed assailants opened fire at the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : One killed in NATO oil tanker attack in Pak’s Balochistan province.

Violence levels in northeast lowest in many years: PM

NEW DELHI – The highlight of 2010 was the change in the situation in the northeast with violence at it lowest level in many years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday and stressed that the government would respond to any group that desired genuine peace.

“The highlight of the last year has been the change …. Read the original article  : Violence levels in northeast lowest in many years: PM.

Shepherd’s Monument ‘code’ is 19th century graffiti claims Brit historian

LONDON – The eight-letter inscription on the 18th century Shepherd’s Monument in UK has left many baffled, but a British historian has come forward to say that it is nothing more than 19th century graffiti.

The letters OUOSVAVV, framed at either end by DM, on the monument at Shugborough Hall in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Shepherd’s Monument ‘code’ is 19th century graffiti claims Brit historian.

Britain secretly advised Libyan govt. on how to secure Lockerbie bomber’s release: Wikileaks

LONDON – Secret US diplomatic cables released by the whistleblower website ‘Wikileaks’ have revealed that British ministers had secretly suggested ways to the Libyan government for the early and successful release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.

The Telegraph quoted the cables as saying that one of UK’s Foreign Office ministers had sent detailed legal advice on … Read more »»».

Naxalism continues to threaten internal security, says Chidambaram

NEW DELHI – Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday informed Chief Ministers of States that left wing extremism continued to be a major challenge to internal security.

Addressing the Chief Ministers on internal security, he said that a stalemate continued with the affected states unable to make significant inroads, nor have … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Naxalism continues to threaten internal security, says Chidambaram.

India remains “vulnerable” to terrorism, says Chidambaram

NEW DELHI – Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said that India remained “vulnerable” to terrorism as new groups were suspected to be behind some terror attacks that took place in recent years.

Addressing the Chief Ministers on internal security here, Chidambaram said:”I must caution you that there is no [..] Read the original article: here.

Chidambaram says India lives in a ‘troubled neighbourhood’

NEW DELHI – Addressing the Chief Ministers Conference here today, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that India lived in a troubled neighborhood which made the country face terror and inflow of refugees.

“Some obvious consequences are cross border terrorism, covert support to insurgents, arms smuggling, Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), inflow of …. Source article  : Chidambaram says India lives in a ‘troubled neighbourhood’.

Last year’s Pakistan floods could have been predicted

WASHINGTON – Catastrophic monsoon rains that swept Pakistan last year could have been predicted days in advance if weather-forecasting data had been shared and processed, according to US researchers.

The study, which used data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF), found that the floods could have been predicted 8-10 days beforehand if …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Last year’s Pakistan floods could have been predicted.

Ugandan opposition leader sings praises of ex-dictator Idi Amin

ARUA – A Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, has praised the country’s former dictator and despot Idi Amin, saying that the latter had done more for the country than long-serving president Yoweri Museveni.

Besigye, the leader of four-party coalition Inter Party Co-operation, made the remarks at an election rally in Arua, a town in Amin’s West … Read more >>>.

Michelle Obama responds to McQueen dress row

NEW YORK – US First Lady Michelle Obama, who found herself at the centre of a controversy for wearing a British designer’s gown to a recent state dinner, has responded back – ’she just wants to wear what she loves’.

Michelle, no stranger to state occasion elegance, wore a red Alexander McQueen while hosting Chinese President … Original article on : Michelle Obama responds to McQueen dress row.

North-eastern India witnessed in 2010 lowest level of violence in many years

NEW DELHI – Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said that there has been a ” dramatic change in the situation in the North East in 2010″ which witnessed the lowest level of violence in many years.

Addressing the Chief Ministers on internal security here, Chidambaram said: “The other challenge to security is the challenge … Original article on : North-eastern India witnessed in 2010 lowest level of violence in many years.

Palin aide rejects media report that she dropped words retreat, reloading from her speech

Reno (California, US), – A key aide of former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has confirmed that the latter did use two controversial phrases – “Don’t retreat, reload” and “Don’t retreat, stand tall” – during a recent speech here.

Though Palin’s speech on Monday night to the Safari Club in Reno was … Read more »».

US boy sets world record with perfect score on Dance Dance Revolution

WASHINGTON – A boy in the US has entered the Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition after becoming the youngest person to reach a perfect score on Dance Dance Revolution at the age of 9.

Ryota Wada, 10, was awarded a certificate from Guinness World Records for the feat, and his father, Ted Wada, has …. Read the original article  : here.

Terrified passengers were almost flying across cabin in turbulence hit V Oz flight

CANBERRA – Passengers on a Melbourne-bound V Australia flight were almost flying around the cabin after plane hit unexpected turbulence.

Ambulance crews were called to attend a number of injured passengers after the arrival of flight VA20 from Phuket in Thailand as it landed at Tullamarine at 7.40 this morning, news.com.au reports.

A mother of three … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Terrified passengers were almost flying across cabin in turbulence hit V Oz flight.

Murdered Indian origin woman’s husband in police custody till Feb.28

HAMILTON – The husband of a woman found burning on the side of a Huntly road last month has been reamded to police custody till February 28 and will reappear before the Hamilton District Court on March 1.

Diwesh Kumar Sharma, 29, appeared briefly on Tuesday, on three charges – murdering his wife Ranjeeta, assault with … Read : Murdered Indian origin woman’s husband in police custody till Feb.28.

Rare photos of endangered Amazonians released to bring attention to their plight

LONDON – Rare photographs of natives of the Amazon have been released by Brazil to bring attention to the plight of the indigenous people, who rights groups say are faced with possible extinction.

The photographs, taken by Brazil’s National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), show curious adults and children peering skyward with their faces dyed reddish-orange and toting … Read more »»».