Breaking News – Newsletter for February 4, 2011

US girl finds naughty adult message on kids’ Valentine’s Day candy

WASHINGTON – A girl in the US has said that she found a naughty adult message on a piece of kids Valentine’s Day candy.

Ciara Bush, 12, said she read the message before showing it to her parents, who were stunned by what they saw.

“I thought it …. Source article  : US girl finds naughty adult message on kids’ Valentine’s Day candy.

House Republicans agree to drop “Forcible Rape” language from Abortion Bill

WASHINGTON – Republicans in the United States House of Representatives have dropped the word “forcible rape” from a section of an Abortion Bill that is before the House, following widespread condemnation by Democrats and abortion rights activists.

The “No Taxpayer Funding for …. Original source  : House Republicans agree to drop “Forcible Rape” language from Abortion Bill.

UK Muslim counsellors’ refusal to applaud Afghan war hero outrages colleagues

LONDON – The act of showing outright “disrespect” for a young Afghanistan war hero by two UK Muslim counsellors during an award ceremony has spurred a outrage among their colleagues who insisted that the duo should be “ashamed” of their ‘disrespectful’ move. …. Original source  : UK Muslim counsellors’ refusal to applaud Afghan war hero outrages colleagues.

Pak envoy to Egypt’s ‘charge for flight’ stand nixing evacuation of citizens from Cairo

LAHORE – Pakistan’s Ambassador to Cairo Seema Naqvi has become a virtual hurdle to the evacuation of Pakistanis from the riot-torn Egyptian capital by asking the Foreign Office to charge money for the act, diplomatic sources have confided.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had issued the … Read more >>>.

Oz hotel offers guests chance to experience -190 degrees temperature

MELBOURNE – A hotel in Sydney, Australia, is offering its guests the experience of a lifetime, by exposing their bodies to temperatures as low as -190C.

Guests at a new cryolab clinic at Sydney’s Grace Hotel will be able to experience cryotherapy technology, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Oz hotel offers guests chance to experience -190 degrees temperature.

Obama prays for charity, humility, closeness to God, longer skirts for Malia

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama has revealed that he has three main points when he says his prayers: charity, humility, and closeness to God.

Obama, 49, said he “petitions God for a whole range of things”, but the three are the focus of his prayer.

“The first category of prayer comes out … Read more >>>.

Nepal TV station broadcasting night bulletin using ‘lantern’ to protest against power cuts

KATHMANDU – A top television network of Nepal has reportedly been broadcasting its nightly news bulletin in semi-darkness using a lantern to highlight the effects of massive power cuts.

Nepal is currently experiencing about 12 hours of power cuts daily.

Since … Read more »»».

KFC pulls fish sandwich ad campaign using Obama look-alike

WASHINGTON – KFC in Hong Kong has pulled an Obama-themed commercial selling a fish fillet sandwich.

A spokesman for Yum! Brands, however, declined to say exactly why the video ad campaign, which used an Obama look-alike to sell the sandwich, was yanked from air, reports Fox News.

He maintained it ‘was meant to be a spoof’.

“No …. Source  : KFC pulls fish sandwich ad campaign using Obama look-alike.

IAF MiG crashes, pilot safe

GWALIOR – A Soviet-era MiG-21 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Madhya Pradesh Friday but there were no casualties as the pilot ejected safely, an official said.

The incident occurred at around 11.20 a.m. at Anup Nagar, 150 km southwest of this Madhya Pradesh town, an IAF spokesperson said here.
“The pilot …. Source article  : IAF MiG crashes, pilot safe.

Kuwait may pardon prisoners who memorise Quran

MANAMA – Kuwait’s Endowments and Islamic Affairs ministry has said that prisoners who can memorise the Quran might be eligible for the annual pardon.

The decision will be part of efforts to rehabilitate inmates and help them re-integrate society driven by high values. According to the ministry, 137 inmates were last enrolled in the memorisation programme.

“Kuwait … Read more »»».

Swedish ad condemned for portraying men as ‘mere sex objects’

LONDON – Sweden’s advertising ombudsman has slammed an advertisement featuring a muscular man clad only in a pair of boxer shorts as offensive to men as it portrays them as “mere sex objects”.

The ad, which promotes a television operator called Boxer, shows a photo shop character called Robert stretching out on a sheepskin rug wearing …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Swedish ad condemned for portraying men as ‘mere sex objects’.

Student suspected of being Maoist informer in Jhargram

JHARGRAM – Enraged students blocked a road in West Bengal’s Jhargram district on Thursday after police arrested a fellow school boy on suspicion of being a Maoist informer.

Students along with their teachers were seen protesting the police action.

“We blocked the National Highway-6 because police arrested a student of Class 10th. He was arrested when he …. Original article  : Student suspected of being Maoist informer in Jhargram.

Five Maoists arrested in Bihar

CHAPRA – Five hardcore Maoists, including their self-styled commander, have been arrested at Chapra in Saran district of Bihar.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a hostel of the State welfare department and arrested the Maoists, including their leader Nakul ji.

“The police team acting on a tip off carried out a search operation in Ambedkar lodge …. Original source  : Five Maoists arrested in Bihar.

McCain opts out of 2012 GOP presidential candidature endorsements

WASHINGTON – US Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) has said that he would “most likely” opt to keep himself away from endorsing any presidential candidate in 2012.

“I think I’m staying out of this for the first time in many years,” Politico quoted McCain, as saying.

On being asked if he would stay out of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : McCain opts out of 2012 GOP presidential candidature endorsements.

Pakistan team to assess Jammu lake project

JAMMU – A team of Pakistani experts will visit Jammu and Kashmir in the third week of February to assess an artificial lake under construction here.

“Since we have nothing to hide, let the team from Pakistan come and examine the lake project,” Public Health Engineering Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din told IANS.
The lake is under … Read more »».

Kannada Sahitya Sammelana Kicks Off

BANGALORE, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Bangalore is all set to host the 77th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana that started from today. The three-day event will aim to promote Kannada literature and culture. The government has persuaded each and every theater located in the city, to play only Kannada movies only, for the next three days, … Read more : Kannada Sahitya Sammelana Kicks Off.

Proposed US defence radar on Czech soil was ‘blind’ to long-range missiles: Wikileaks

WASHINGTON – The United States’ plans to build a missile defence system on Czech soil experienced troubles when defence chiefs discovered that the proposed radar lacked the ability to quickly detect long-range missiles.

The Telegraph quoted a 2007 briefing by General Patrick O’Reilly, Director of the US Missile Defence Agency, as claiming that the radar …. Source  : Proposed US defence radar on Czech soil was ‘blind’ to long-range missiles: Wikileaks.

Has Zardari secretly married US-based PPP activist?

WASHINGTON – Pakistan’s Presidency and Dr Tanveer Zamani, a practicing surgeon and PPP activist in the US, have commented quite differently on a flood of reports and Internet blogs referring to the possibility that Asif Ali Zardari may have secretly married Zamani.

The Sindh Medical College graduate, in her late 40s, who did her PhD in …. Read the original article  : Has Zardari secretly married US-based PPP activist?.

Tequila is causing major environmental problems in Mexico

WASHINGTON – The process of making Tequila from fibrous agave plants is causing major environmental problems in Jalisco, the Mexican state where the drink originated.

Los Angeles businessman Alejandro Viecco had visited the agave-fields surrounding the Mexican town of Tequila and found that the process of making the drink can be messy, smelly and disgusting.

“When …. Read the original article  : Tequila is causing major environmental problems in Mexico.

Chidambaram reviews law and order situation in J-K

JAMMU – Union Home Minister P Chidambaram held a breakfast meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today and reviewed the law and order situation in the state.

The two leaders also discussed the security situation in the state along with the political aspirations of the state.

Chidamabaram, who is on two-day … Read : Chidambaram reviews law and order situation in J-K.