Breaking News – Newsletter for February 6, 2011

Perth bushfire engulfs 20 homes, over 100 residents evacuated

PERTH – Up to 20 houses have reportedly been engulfed by a bushfire in Roleystone in Perth’s south-east, while firefighters are simultaneously battling a blaze that had forced the evacuation of more than 100 people in the Swan Valley.

The dangerous conditions come as the Bureau of Meterology issued a … Read : Perth bushfire engulfs 20 homes, over 100 residents evacuated.

Top Gears’ Jeremy Clarkson fuels row over Mexican ‘racist slurs’

LONDON – While the BBC was forced to apologise after Top Gear host Richard Hammond described Mexicans as ‘lazy, feckless… and flatulent’ in their show, co-host Jeremy Clarkson has again insulted them in his newspaper column.

Clarkson accused the Mexicans of having no sense of humour in his column …. Read the original article  : Top Gears’ Jeremy Clarkson fuels row over Mexican ‘racist slurs’.

‘If I make 2012 White House bid, it will be with thick skin and steel spine,’ says Palin

CALIFORNIA – Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has said that if she does make a bid for the White House in 2012, she will continue “having that thick skin and steel spine.”

“I would continue on the same course of not really …. Source  : ‘If I make 2012 White House bid, it will be with thick skin and steel spine,’ says Palin.

British officials described Zardari as “highly corrupt”, “numbskull”: WikiLeaks

LONDON – British officials described Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari as “highly corrupt” and a “numbskull” who would not last long in office, diplomatic cables unveiled by the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks has revealed.

The officials and military leaders gave their damning assessment of Zardari in the …. Read the original article  : here.

Obama not doing enough to resolve Egypt crisis: Palin

CALIFORNIA – Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has criticized the Obama administration for not doing enough to resolve the crisis in Egypt, one of Washington’s key allies in the Middle East.

Palin told the Christian Broadcasting Network …. Read the original article  : here.

Republicans must try to aspire for Reagan mantle: Palin

Santa Barbara (California, US), – Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin told an audience of conservatives here on Friday night that there won’t be another like (former president) Ronald Reagan, but that did not mean the next crop …. Read the original article  : Republicans must try to aspire for Reagan mantle: Palin.

SAFTA, an important instrument to deepen intra-regional trade: Nirupama Rao

THIMPU – Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Sunday said that with the completion of 25 years of SAARC, the process is maturing and gradually the focus is now on providing more services for the economic and development needs of the people.

She also said the …. Read the original article  : SAFTA, an important instrument to deepen intra-regional trade: Nirupama Rao.

Egypt crisis: CBS journalist incorrectly tweets about Mubarak’s exit

CAIRO – CBS News anchor Katie Couric mistakenly informed her 140,000 followers that embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had stepped down after 30 years.

“As many of you have already heard Mubarak has resigned,” Couric posted before backing off the report.

According to the New York Daily News, the source of …. Source  : Egypt crisis: CBS journalist incorrectly tweets about Mubarak’s exit.

Egypt’s divided military will want Mubarak to go with dignity

WASHINGTON – Egypt’s military brass, though divided over the fate of President Hosni Mubarak, would eventually like him to go with dignity.

According to General (retired) Anthony C. Zinni, a former head of the US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, the senior Egyptian military leadership would treat Mubarak, who once …. Original article  : Egypt’s divided military will want Mubarak to go with dignity.

US develops new technology to penetrate through Chinese Internet censors

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government has reportedly figured out ways penetrate through Internet censorship filters to deliver news and other vital information to people in countries like China via e-mails.

The official report from the Broadcasting Board of Governors has detailed successful testing the agency conducted last year as it tried to slip data into inboxes …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : US develops new technology to penetrate through Chinese Internet censors.

New Zealanders prefer sex to booze

WELLINGTON – Most Kiwi would rather give up alcohol than forgo sex, according to a new poll.

The Research New Zealand survey asked people what they would be prepared to give up if it meant they could keep having a drink.

Few respondents wanted to give up sex, with only 14 percent overall happy to forgo that … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New Zealanders prefer sex to booze.

Egypt Government still unconvinced over West demand for Mubarak ouster

CAIRO – The Egyptian leadership apparently seems unconvinced about asking President Hosni Mubarak to quit his post immediately, even though the United States and leading European nations called for his exit and threw their weight behind Vice-President Omar Suleiman.

Though American officials revealed that Suleiman had promised them an “orderly transition” that would include constitutional reform …. Read the original article  : Egypt Government still unconvinced over West demand for Mubarak ouster.

Brits adopting American-style pronunciation of certain words

LONDON – British people are now adopting the American-style pronunciation of certain words.

Interim results of a study by the British Library suggested a third of Britons taking part now adopt the American-style ’skedule’ over the traditional pronunciation, which has a softer ’sh’ sound, reports the Telegraph.

Other US pronunciations taking root, according to researchers, are ‘pay-triotic’, …. Source article  : Brits adopting American-style pronunciation of certain words.

Jang Group expresses “deep sorrow” over notice on Zardari’s possible remarriage story

KARACHI – The Jang group of newspapers has expressed “deep sorrow and regret over the release of a legal notice” issued by Pakistani authorities for publishing a story on President Asif Ali Zardari’s possible secret remarriage.

On Saturday, Zardari had asked the organisation to apologise for publishing a false and concocted story printed against him, or … Read more >>>.

Chiranjeevi to meet Sonia Gandhi in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Telegu cine star and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) chief Chiranjeevi will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi here today amid speculation that he will merge his party with the Congress and hold discussions on strengthening the relationship between the two parties in Andhra Pradesh.

It has been reported that the meeting is expected to … Read more »»».

Egypt unrest: US distances itself from envoy’s comment on Mubarak

WASHINGTON – The US State Department has distanced itself from comments made by a US special envoy Frank Wisner in which he said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak should stay in office during a power transition.

Spokesman Philip Crowley said Frank Wisner’s views were his own, and not coordinated with the US government.

The Telegraph quoted Crowley, as …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Egypt unrest: US distances itself from envoy’s comment on Mubarak.

UK helped Libya secure Lockerbie bomber’s release: Secret documents

LONDON – Secret documents have revealed that British ministers had arranged to meet their Libyan counterparts to give them advice on how the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi’s could be released from a Scottish prison.

The latest revelation is a contrast to earlier claims by the Labour government that it did not “interfere” in … Read more >>>.

Mukherjee to convene all-party meet on Feb. 8 to break Parliament deadlock

NEW DELHI – In an endeavor to ensure that the ‘Budget Session’ of Parliament functions smoothly, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has convened a meeting of leaders of all political parties on February 8 to resolve the deadlock in the Parliament on the issue of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum …. Source article  : Mukherjee to convene all-party meet on Feb. 8 to break Parliament deadlock.

Chitravali: Compiling Tagore’s art on 150th birth anniversary

NEW DELHI – The spotlight is on the lesser known aspects of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore on his 150th birth anniversary – his numerous art works, his contribution to gender issues and environment among other things.

“The foremost among them are his paintings. The first exhibition of Tagore’s paintings was held in Paris from May … Original article on : Chitravali: Compiling Tagore’s art on 150th birth anniversary.

Bottle of French rare vintage fetches a record 77,412 dollars at auction

NEW DELHI – A bottle of yellow wine, Vin jaune, from 1774 has fetched 77,412 U.S. dollars in eastern France, setting a record price.

The 237-year-old bottle of wine, brewed from grapes in Louis XVI’s reign, hit the record price at a local wine festival auction, reports English.news.cn

The winner of the rare vintage, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bottle of French rare vintage fetches a record 77,412 dollars at auction.