Breaking News – Newsletter for February 5, 2011

Wills, Kate to visit Canada this summer?

TORONTO – Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton are expected to visit Canada this summer.

According to Canadian officials, the chances are ‘very high’ the future heir to the throne and his partner will visit the country in several months.

However, they cautioned decisions are not finalized.

“Discussion are underway, in the …. Source  : Wills, Kate to visit Canada this summer?.

Traditional pot pourri is dying as Brits spend millions on air fresheners

LONDON – The traditional pot pourri is fast disappearing as more and more Britons prefer to spend millions of pounds on air fresheners and scented candles.

New figures show that the bowl of decorative dried flowers and spices are being replaced by modern … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Traditional pot pourri is dying as Brits spend millions on air fresheners.

US warns Pak continued detention of murder-accused diplomat may hurt defence ties

ISLAMABAD – The United States has conveyed a veiled threat to Pakistan that their bilateral defence cooperation can come under a cloud if the standoff on the issue of double murder-accused US national Raymond Davis’ immunity persists.

A three-member visiting delegation of the US House Armed Services Committee conveyed this warning to Pakistani … Read more : US warns Pak continued detention of murder-accused diplomat may hurt defence ties.

200 children fall sick following lunch party in Gujarat

NAVSARI – As many as 200 children fell sick after they consumed food served during a meal organised by non-resident Indian at a primary school in Gujarat’s Navsari district.

About 450 children and 50 staff of the Balmandir School attended a lunch organised by a non-resident …. Source article  : 200 children fall sick following lunch party in Gujarat.

Obama’s second year approval ratings most partisan and polarized since 1955: Poll

WASHINGTON – A new poll has found that United States President Barack Obama’s approval ratings during his second year in office were the most partisan and polarized they have ever been at two years into a presidency.

Gallup reviewed the partisan approval gaps between Democrats and Republicans and found …. Original article  : Obama’s second year approval ratings most partisan and polarized since 1955: Poll.

Catholics back Hindus protesting over mockery of Lord Ganesh by Carrey on NBC

NEVADA – Roman Catholics have come out in support of Hindus, who are disturbed over the portrayal of Lord Ganesh as a sex act on NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) and want apologies from all those responsible for it, including actor Jim Carrey and NBC.

Father Charles … Read more : Catholics back Hindus protesting over mockery of Lord Ganesh by Carrey on NBC.

US spied on UK Foreign Office to gather crucial information about ministers: Wikileaks

WASHINGTON – The United States had ordered its diplomats to spy and gather information about the weaknesses of British Foreign Office ministers, and the strains in their professional relationships, according to latest revelations of Wikileaks.

The new … Read more : US spied on UK Foreign Office to gather crucial information about ministers: Wikileaks.

Pitch forking the farmer into the marketplace

RANCHI – The face of agriculture in India is changing fast. It needs to become not only sustainable but also profitable for farmers especially the young to stay on the land and cultivate it.

The farmers must understand how markets respond to agricultural produce. He [..] Read the original article: here.

Government sends notices to 17 in black money trail

KOLKATA – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said the Government has served notices to seventeen persons related to the foreign banks black money trail.

“We have served notices on seventeen persons and prosecution has begun. The government cannot reveal the names of account holders who …. Read the original article  : here.

Hidden sex poems ‘key to 18th century book’s success’ claims academic

LONDON – A British academic has suggested that the success of two best-selling volumes of poetry published in the 18th century was all due to the pornographic poems hidden in the book.

Oxford University’s Dr Claudine van Hensbergen came across ‘The Cabinet of Love’ in The … Original source on Gaea Times at : Hidden sex poems ‘key to 18th century book’s success’ claims academic.

Bank to fire staff who didn’t report criticism on Facebook

SYDNEY – An Australian bank has warned its employees of disciplinary action, including dismissal, if any one of them fails to report criticism of the bank made by others on social media channels, including Facebook.

Commonwealth Bank’s employees have been directed to immediately notify their manager if they come across “inappropriate or disparaging content … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Bank to fire staff who didn’t report criticism on Facebook.

Dreaded Pak Taliban Chief claims to create suicide bombers in just half-an-hour

ISLAMABAD – The Taliban’s “master recruiter” has boasted of his expertise at swaying people to terror, saying he can turn a young man into a suicide bomber in just half-an-hour.

Qari Hussain, who was placed on the US State Department’s terrorist blacklist …. Source article  : Dreaded Pak Taliban Chief claims to create suicide bombers in just half-an-hour.

Egyptian journo who posted ‘police torture videos’ arrested, but later released

CAIRO – Wael Abbas, a well-known Egyptian journalist who had posted hundreds of terrifying videos of police abuse on the web, has claimed that he was arrested, but later released by his country’s Army.

Abbas tweeted “arrested by the Army!” just before 7 p.m. Cairo time on Friday evening, …. Read the original article  : Egyptian journo who posted ‘police torture videos’ arrested, but later released.

Clothes dipped in liquid cocaine found in Italy drug bust

LONDON – A drug trafficking ring that used clothes dipped in liquid cocaine to smuggle the drug into Italy from the Dominican Republic has been busted by the Italian police.

Jumpers and jackets coated in cocaine were smuggled in regular suitcases through Rome’s Fiumicino airport, and … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Clothes dipped in liquid cocaine found in Italy drug bust.

Meet the Brit boy, 7, who has memorised an entire city’s bus timetable

LONDON – A schoolboy in Britain is said to have memorised an entire city’s bus timetable, and can recite every route in his hometown.amie Taylor, 7, whose first word was “bus”, has collected hundreds of bus timetables and maps for Swindon, … Read more >>>.

Having more n-bombs than India won’t help, says Pakistani daily

ISLAMABAD – Possessing more nuclear weapons than India will not make Pakistan more secure, said a commentary in a Pakistan daily, pointing out that “the Bomb” had not helped to achieve Kashmiri liberation, and instead India’s grip on Kashmir was tighter.

The commentary in the Express Tribune also said that Pakistan has “deep and serious …. Original article  : Having more n-bombs than India won’t help, says Pakistani daily.

Welsh mum beats odds of 133,000/1 with birth of 3 children on same date

LONDON – A woman in Wales has beaten incredible odds of 133,000/1 after she gave birth to three of her children on the same date.

Pam Banwell, 35, gave birth to Millie, who will turn one, Jac, 9, and Alisha, 7, on February 5, and she said the fluke had come as a big surprise.

“We didn’t … Read more >>.

‘Assam Matsya Mahotsav’ fish festival in Guwahati

GUWAHATI – Assam, which is one of the largest consumers of fish in the country and is trying hard to become self sufficient in fish production, recently organised fifth Assam Matsya Mahotsav to promote fish production in the State.

The fish festival was held from January 27-29 at Shilpgram in Guwahati.

The festival brought together …. Source  : ‘Assam Matsya Mahotsav’ fish festival in Guwahati.

Burmese military junta to continue to rule by proxy after ex- army Gen elected President

RANGOON – Burma’s parliament has elected the country’s former Army General Thein Sein as the President, raising fears among political observers that the military establishment that has been running the country for almost a half-century is in no mood to loosen its grip on power.

Sein, the former Prime Minister, has a record of loyalty …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Burmese military junta to continue to rule by proxy after ex- army Gen elected President.

Seminar cum discussion on northeast held in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A seminar on the northeast was recently held here that focused on using literature, academic work and creative writing as a vehicle for spreading peace in the region.

The festival attracted writers, journalist and social activists from different parts of country who have extensively covered the northeast in the past.

The event has …. Source  : Seminar cum discussion on northeast held in Delhi.