Breaking News – Newsletter for February 16, 2011

India’a Dornier aircraft in Seychelles for anti-piracy operations

NEW DELHI – India has given to Seychelles a Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft for surveillance and anti-piracy missions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)that is plagued by piracy threats in and around the Gulf of Aden.

The fixed-wing aircraft will start its surveillance operation in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Seychelles from this week, … Read more : India’a Dornier aircraft in Seychelles for anti-piracy operations.

Obama proposes 3.1-bn-dollar US aid to Pak in fiscal year 2012

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has proposed a staggering amount of 3.1-billion-dollars, as financial assistance to Pakistan in the 2012 budget, despite its standoff with the Asian nation on double murder-accused US official Raymond Davis’ detention issue.

The administration’s assistance for Pakistan is broken up into two parts, the “enduring core part”- meaning long-term assistance programs- …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Obama proposes 3.1-bn-dollar US aid to Pak in fiscal year 2012.

Kerry hints at possibility of bill being moved in Senate ‘against US aid to Pak’

LAHORE – US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John F. Kerry has hinted at the possibility of some senators moving a bill for cutting off aid to Pakistan in case both countries did not act sensibly on the issue of double-murder accused US diplomat Raymond Davis.

Talking to media persons at the residence of the US … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Kerry hints at possibility of bill being moved in Senate ‘against US aid to Pak’.

Anonymous hackers release ‘decrypted version of Stuxnet worm’ online: Security experts

WASHINGTON – US security experts have claimed that the computer hackers’ collective Anonymous has released a decrypted version of the Stuxnet worm that had affected Iran’s nuclear power program in December last year, online.

The ones and zeroes that make up the code called the Stuxnet worm, described as the most sophisticated cyberweapon ever created, were … Read : Anonymous hackers release ‘decrypted version of Stuxnet worm’ online: Security experts.

US “top lawyer of last resort” joins Assange to “protect new electronic media vigorously”

LONDON – Alan Dershowitz, America’s “top lawyer of last resort”, has said that he has joined Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s legal team to “protect new electronic media vigorously.”

The US is trying to build a conspiracy case against Assange for masterminding the release of hundreds of secret US diplomatic cables that led to controversies across the …. Original source  : US “top lawyer of last resort” joins Assange to “protect new electronic media vigorously”.

Egypt’s new military leader feared political reform could ‘erode central govt. power’: Wikileaks

CAIRO – Field Marshal Mohamad Tantawi, the head of the Higher Military Council that took control of Egypt last week, had opposed political reform because he believed that it ‘eroded central government power,’ the whistleblower Wikileaks has revealed.

The Telegraph quoted the secret US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks as saying that the military leader …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Egypt’s new military leader feared political reform could ‘erode central govt. power’: Wikileaks.

Iraqi defector admits lying about Iraq WMD to get rid of Saddam Hussein regime

WASHINGTON – An Iraqi defector whose claims that the Saddam Hussein regime possessed biological weapons of mass destruction had persuaded the US to invade the oil rich country in 2003, has admitted for the first time he had “fabricated” some facts to get rid of the autocratic regime.

Rafid Ahmed al-Janabi’s claims had convinced former … Read : Iraqi defector admits lying about Iraq WMD to get rid of Saddam Hussein regime.

China’s ‘naked officials’ to be subjected to more scrutiny

NEW DELHI – A senior discipline official in China has revealed that “naked officials”, the name given to public servants whose wives have taken residence abroad and who are suspected to be more prone to corruption, will soon be subjected to more scrutiny.

Zhang Xiaoying, head of the Party discipline inspection commission of the Beijing Municipal …. Original source  : China’s ‘naked officials’ to be subjected to more scrutiny.

Egyptian govt. exploited national infrastructure to cripple Internet: Experts

CAIRO – Interviews with many Egyptian engineers, as well as an examination of data collected around the world during the five-day Internet blackout in the country during the anti-government protests, indicate that the Hosni Mubarak government had exploited a devastating combination of vulnerabilities in the national infrastructure.ccording to the New York Times, the government’s attack … Read : Egyptian govt. exploited national infrastructure to cripple Internet: Experts.

India not unduly worried over China’s military modernisation: Antony

NEW DELHI – India Wednesday said it was “not unduly worried” over China’s military modernisation, though the neighbour’s defence budget was a matter of concern.

“Modernisation of China’s armed forces and its ever increasing military spending is a matter of serious concern. But we are not unduly worried because what we need to do …. Read the original article  : here.

Over 100 Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO – : More than 100 Indian fishermen have been detained in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for allegedly straying into the Lankan waters.

The Indian fishermen were intercepted by the Sri Lankan fishermen off the coast of Point pedro and later they were handed over to the Sri Lankan police.

The fishermen will be …. Original source  : Over 100 Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka.

3 out of 4 Brits are gambling addicts

LONDON – A survey has found that the number of gamblers in Britain has risen, with three out of four being gambling addicts.

The survey by the Gambling Commission found 73 percent of the adult population have gambled in the past year compared with 68 percent in 2007.

As the Gambling Act came into force, the number …. Original source  : 3 out of 4 Brits are gambling addicts.

US no-fly list leaves British Muslim stranded in Canada

TORONTO – Probably in the first such case in international travel, the US no-fly list has left a British man stranded in Canada.

Dawood Hepplewhite, who is a convert to Islam, turned up at Toronto’s Pearson Airport Sunday only to be told that he couldn’t board an Air Transat flight to Britain.
The 30-year-old British …. Read the original article  : US no-fly list leaves British Muslim stranded in Canada.

Nazi 3D ‘dancing girls and sausages’ films are of ‘excellent quality’

MELBOURNE – Aussie director Philippe Mora has uncovered 3D films shot by Nazis that feature dancing girls and sausages.

Mora stumbled upon the films while searching through Germany’s Federal Archives.

The two black-and-white movies were made in 1936 and referred to as ‘raum film’ or ’space film’.

“The films are shot on 35mm – apparently with a prism … Original article on : Nazi 3D ‘dancing girls and sausages’ films are of ‘excellent quality’.

US Embassy denies reports about Davis’ rude behaviour, special treatment in jail

ISLAMABAD – The US Consul General in Lahore has dismissed media reports that double-murder accused US diplomat Raymond Davis and the US officials who visited him in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail had acted inappropriately.

Consul General Carmela Conroy “strongly refuted reports in some Pakistani newspapers suggesting that Davis and US officials visiting him in prison have … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US Embassy denies reports about Davis’ rude behaviour, special treatment in jail.

I’ll probably be an unbearable grandmother, says Hillary Clinton

LONDON – Hillary Clinton has admitted that she would probably make an ‘unbearable’ grandmother, but she would love it if her newly-married daughter Chelsea were to have children.

The US Secretary of State sat down with Harper’s Bazaar’s March issue to talk Chelsea, grandchildren and handbags.

“Probably an unbearable one – the kind who is saying, ‘Oh, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : I’ll probably be an unbearable grandmother, says Hillary Clinton.

Princess Diana’s bro set to tie the knot

WASHINGTON – Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, has announced that he is engaged to Canadian philanthropist Karen Gordon.

Spencer will be tying the knot at his ancestral home in Althorp, in central England, less than two months after his nephew Prince William marries Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, reports CBS News.

“Charles, the ninth … Original article on : Princess Diana’s bro set to tie the knot.

‘German Fritzl’ accused of fathering 7 kids with stepdaughter

LONDON – A man labelled the ‘German Josef Fritzl’ has been accused of fathering seven children with his stepdaughter.

The 48-year-old German, identified only as Detlef S., sat stone-faced at the state court in Koblenz as Judge read aloud a letter written by his daughter, now 18, reports the Daily Mail.

“You made my life a living … Read : ‘German Fritzl’ accused of fathering 7 kids with stepdaughter.

Defence Ministry taking action in gun procurement leak: Antony

NEW DELHI – Defence Minister A K Antony has said that his ministry is taking proper corrective and preventive action in the recent leak of a top classified report on procurement of guns from the USA and a high level inquiry has been ordered to probe into the matter.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of …. Read the original article  : here.

London 7/7 bomber’s secret girlfriend was ‘clueless’ of his ‘radicalization’

LONDON – A secret girlfriend of Shehzad Tanweer, one of the July 7, 2005, London suicide bombers, has told the inquest into the attack that she had no idea about his radicalization.

According to the Daily Mail, the woman, identified as witness A, described how she believed Tanweer had been in love with her.

Tanweer was one …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : London 7/7 bomber’s secret girlfriend was ‘clueless’ of his ‘radicalization’.