Breaking News – Newsletter for February 10, 2011

Top US lawmaker says Pak faces cut in aid unless it drastically increases tax rates

WASHINGTON – US aid beneficiary nations, such as Pakistan, will have to shoulder more of the burden for their own growth as Washington eyes deep cuts in its overseas assistance, a top US lawmaker has warned.

“Greater sacrifice by aid recipients is required to sustain the generosity of the [..] Read the original article: here.

US man faces jail over sex with girl, 13, he married in online computer game

LONDON – A man in the US is facing jail after he married a teenage girl in an online role-playing game and then had sex with her after meeting up with her.

John W Phillips, 54, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, has been accused of …. Original article  : US man faces jail over sex with girl, 13, he married in online computer game.

WikiLeaks: Suleiman told Israel he would ‘cleanse’ Sinai of arms runners to Gaza

LONDON – Egyptian Vice-President Omar Suleiman told the Israelis he wanted to start “cleansing the Sinai” of Palestinian arms smugglers.

According to WikiLeaks-related leaked diplomatic cables, this is more evidence of the close ties between Israel, the United States and Suleiman, who is tipped to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : WikiLeaks: Suleiman told Israel he would ‘cleanse’ Sinai of arms runners to Gaza.

Brit Muslim kids learning to cut off hands of thieves

LONDON – British Muslim children are being taught how to chop off thieves’ hands and being told that Jews are plotting to take over the world at a network of Islamic schools.

According to The Telegraph, nearly 5,000 pupils are attending weekend schools [..] Read the original article: here.

Australia in secret uranium talks with India

CANBERRA – The Australian Government is reportedly in secret negotiations with the Indian Government for the sale of uranium, though publicly it asserts that it cannot allow such exports as long as Delhi maintains a nuclear arsenal outside the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Resources, … Original article on : Australia in secret uranium talks with India.

US workers fired over email comparing Obama to ‘tar ball’ sues company

LONDON – Two workers in the US, who were fired from their jobs after they forwarded an email that compared US president Barack Obama to a “tar ball”, have decided to sue their company.

Deborah Bonanno and James Sprung received the email and forwarded it to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : US workers fired over email comparing Obama to ‘tar ball’ sues company.

Bleeding killed ‘whipped to death’ Bangladesh girl, finds fresh post-mortem report

DHAKA – A 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl, who was publicly whipped for allegedly having an illicit relationship with her married cousin, had bled to death, according to a fresh post-mortem examination.

It comes after a Bangladeshi High Court ordered authorities to exhume Hena Begum’s … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bleeding killed ‘whipped to death’ Bangladesh girl, finds fresh post-mortem report.

Prince Charles says climate change skeptics ‘playing a reckless game of roulette’

LONDON – The Prince of Wales has hit out at climate change skeptics saying that they are “playing a reckless game of roulette” with the future of their grandchildren.rince Charles said this while addressing a European Union conference on global warming in Brussels.

“I would …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Prince Charles says climate change skeptics ‘playing a reckless game of roulette’.

Aircraft deal: IAF fears bid losers may complain to CVC

BANGALORE – India is just about a month or two away from deciding the winner of the $10.4-billion contract for 126 combat aircraft, but the Indian Air Force (IAF) is afraid the losers among the six bidders for the deal might derail the process of quick acquisition by knocking on the corruption watchdog’s doors.

The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Aircraft deal: IAF fears bid losers may complain to CVC.

Teddy Day Sales Flood Stores

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Soft toy galleries are flooded with customers for today is the much awaited Teddy Day when people gift their loved ones teddy bears, the cutest and cuddliest of all toys. With February 10 as the Teddy Day in the Valentine week, shopkeepers are having an extremely busy schedule, for there seems … Read : Teddy Day Sales Flood Stores.

Indian Railways Planning More Complexes

ALLAHABAD, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Indian railways is keen on making passenger amenities improved at the key rail stations in the country. The Allahabad junction is soon going to get a spanking new multi functional complex which will prove to be a boon for the passengers. The construction of the complex has been given to Indian … Read more »».

M.J. Akbar’s book still rules the bestseller list (IANS Books)

NEW DELHI – Indian journalist M.J. Akbar’s “Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan” and “Tender Hooks” by Pakistani writer Moni Mohsin continue to dominate for the fourth week the non-fiction and fiction sections, respectively, of the bestseller list.

The top 10 in each category this week are:
Non-Fiction
1. “Tinderbox: The Past and Future …. Original source  : M.J. Akbar’s book still rules the bestseller list (IANS Books).

Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable cruise missile

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Thursday successfully tested a nuclear-capable cruise missile with a range of up to 600 km, a military official said.

The Hatf-VII missile, also called Babur after the 16th-century Muslim ruler who founded the Mughal Empire, was fired from an undisclosed location, said Major General Athar Abbas, a military spokesman.
“Babur, which can … Read more >>.

Indian Railways Focuses On Belur Math

KOLKATA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Union Railway minister Mamata Banerjee is keen on building a positive image among the intellectuals as is evident from her recent activities. Under her instruction Indian railways has come up with special trains dedicated to pay tribute to the memories of stalwarts like Mother Teresa and Rabindranath Tagore. She laid the foundation …. Read the original article  : Indian Railways Focuses On Belur Math.

Brit man used schoolgirl, 15, as sex toy in cult’s initiation ceremony

LONDON – A man from Britain has been accused of leading a cult and using a 15-year-old schoolgirl as a sex toy in an occult initiation ceremony.

Colin Batley, 48, who along with other cult members lived in a cul-de-sac in Kidwelly, West Wales, has been accused of being the “evil” cult leader who first had …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Brit man used schoolgirl, 15, as sex toy in cult’s initiation ceremony.

Zardari aides hope Pak, US will ‘work out differences’ on Raymond Davis’ detention

ISLAMABAD – Aides to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari have expressed confidence that Islamabad and Washington can amicably resolve a diplomatic crisis over the detention of double-murder accused US diplomat Raymond Davis.

None of them would, however, directly respond to the statements from Washington that billions of dollars in US aid to Pakistan could be … Read more : Zardari aides hope Pak, US will ‘work out differences’ on Raymond Davis’ detention.

N. Korea walks out of talks, analysts warn of more nuke tests

SEOUL – Talks between officials of South and North Korea have broken down, suggesting that Pyongyang could now be taking steps to burgeon its nuclear program.

South Korea’s chief negotiator Colonel Moon Sang-kyun said the three-member North Korean team got up abruptly and walked out of the room without shaking hands and without comment in the …. Source article  : N. Korea walks out of talks, analysts warn of more nuke tests.

Development work, police action can address Maoist issue in India: IG, CRPF

COIMBATORE – N. R. K. Reddy, Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has said the Maoist issue could be rightly addressed with a mixture of development initiatives and police action.

Talking to mediapersons at the passing out parade of 77th batch of Sub-Inspectors here, Reddy said to address the issue developmental work should go …. Source article  : Development work, police action can address Maoist issue in India: IG, CRPF.

Rahul Gandhi blames Mayawati for deteriorating law and order condition in UP

AMETHI – Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for the deteriorating law and order condition of the state and raised questions about the safety and security of women in Amethi.

Addressing the locals, after laying the foundation stone of a training camp for Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gandhi said …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Rahul Gandhi blames Mayawati for deteriorating law and order condition in UP.

WiliLeaks cables state Saudi oil reserves may be overstated by almost 40 percent

LONDON – Leaked American diplomatic cables released by the whistle blowing web site WikiLeaks have revealed that the United States fears that Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, may not have enough reserves to prevent oil prices escalating.

The cables urge Washington to take seriously a warning from a senior Saudi government oil executive … Original article on : WiliLeaks cables state Saudi oil reserves may be overstated by almost 40 percent.