Breaking News – Newsletter for February 24, 2011

Chinese tourists emerge as top tax-free shoppers in Europe

NEW DELHI – A new study has found that Chinese tourists have outspend the Russians to become the top tax-free shoppers in Europe.

Statistics from Global Blue, a Switzerland-based tax-refund and shopping services provider, also showed that the average spending of Chinese for each transaction doubled that of the Russians.

“On average, Chinese tourists spent 107 percent …. Original source  : Chinese tourists emerge as top tax-free shoppers in Europe.

Zardari’s quiet UAE visit to find solution to Pak’s economic woes

ISLAMABAD – As Pakistan was busy watching the Raymond Davis saga unfold, President Asif Ali Zardari quietly took an unannounced trip to Dubai to explore options to solve the country’s economic crunch.

A few days ago, Zardari visited the Gulf state for a couple of hours to seek the intervention of the UAE leadership for getting …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Zardari’s quiet UAE visit to find solution to Pak’s economic woes.

Israel bombs Gaza targets, after missile hits Israeli city

GAZA CITY/TEL AVIV – Israeli jets bombed targets across the Gaza Strip overnight, after a missile struck the southern Israeli city of Beersheba for the first time in two years.

A military spokeswoman in Tel Aviv did not specify the number of sorties that began around midnight and ended at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) Thursday.
… Read : Israel bombs Gaza targets, after missile hits Israeli city.

238 missing and 78 dead in New Zealand earthquake

WELLINGTON – Nearly 238 people are reported missing and 78 are dead in Christchurch earthquake.

The 6.3 magnitude quake hit New Zealand’s second largest city on Tuesday and the death toll is likely to rise in the region.

According to police nearly 22 bodies are inside the Christchurch’s Cathedral Square, the stuff.co.nz website reports.

The death toll can … Read more : 238 missing and 78 dead in New Zealand earthquake.

Romanian women endured 22 million abortions after ex-dictator’s ban on contraception

LONDON – Romanian women went through over 22 million abortions as a result of policies introduced by former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, health statistics have revealed.

According to the Daily Mail, official government records show that between 1958 and 2008 state clinics carried out 22.1 million terminations in a country with a population of just 21.5 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Romanian women endured 22 million abortions after ex-dictator’s ban on contraception.

Wild bisons injure six villagers in West Bengal district

COOCH BEHAR – Two wild bisons strayed into three villages in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district and injured around half a dozen inhabitants.

The bisons attacked the villagers in Marichbari, Amtuli Hat Gopalpara and Kankanpuri.

The villagers informed the Range Forest Officer, who immediately deputed a veterinarian to tranquillise the bisons.

Veterinarian, Dr. Manas Kundu said : … Original source on Gaea Times at : Wild bisons injure six villagers in West Bengal district.

Booze puts Brits in the mood for sex: Study

LONDON – The more alcohol Brits drink, the more turned on they become.

That’s the conclusion of a new study, which also found that the sexy side-effect can wear off if fellas drink too much.

Researchers asked men and women to watch a mix of erotic and “neutral” films while necking booze.

Genital responses were measured to find …. Read the original article  : Booze puts Brits in the mood for sex: Study.

Wife of ‘German Fritzl’ refuses to give evidence at his trial

LONDON – The wife of a man, who fathered eight kids with his stepdaughter, has refused to testify at his trial.

Detlef S, dubbed the German Josef Fritzl, allegedly abused his stepdaughter, his natural daughter and his stepson for over 20 years, reports Sky News.

The 48-year-old is also accused of selling the two girls to friends …. Read the original article  : here.

Assange’s ‘final’ extradition fate could take a year to be decided

LONDON – Julian Assange, founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, is expected to lose his battle against extradition to Sweden today.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Magistrates Court will grant the European arrest warrant forcing Assange to face accusations of sex crimes in Stockholm.

However, it could take nine months to a year before a final …. Read the original article  : Assange’s ‘final’ extradition fate could take a year to be decided.

Iran bolstering its position as political balance shifts and shakes in Arab world

MANAMA – The balance of power appears to be shifting towards Iran as the Arab World continues to remain politically unstable and shaken.

Regional experts say this week Iran sent two warships through the Suez Canal for the first time since its revolution in 1979, and Egypt’s new military leaders allowed them to pass.

Saudi Arabia, an … Read more : Iran bolstering its position as political balance shifts and shakes in Arab world.

Russia set to classify beer as alcoholic drink for first time

LONDON – Russia is for the first time set to legally classify beer as an alcoholic drink, and the move comes as the Kremlin carries out its toughest anti-alcohol campaign.

Beer had technically been classified as a foodstuff, and the category it was put in allowed producers to avoid a sweeping new crackdown on alcohol advertising … Read more »».

Amended Chinese law says organ traffickers will get death penalty

BEIJING – Criminals convicted for organ trafficking will be given the death penalty, says an amendment submitted to the National People’s Congress (NCP) Standing Committee of China.

The amendment was submitted on Wednesday to the Committee for a third reading. It specifies that criminals convicted of “forced organ removal, forced organ donation or organ removal from …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Hallmark Channel’s TV film about Wills-Kate romance set for August

NEW YORK – After Lifetime, the Hallmark Channel is planning to make a TV film about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s romance.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Hallmark Channel is fast-tracking production on its own royal-romance biopic in order to premiere the TV movie on Aug. 13.

Barbara Fisher, Hallmark’s senior vice president of original programming, …. Source article  : Hallmark Channel’s TV film about Wills-Kate romance set for August.

Internet words ‘bloggable’ and ’scareware’ enter Oxford Dictionary

LONDON – A slew of new words, including ‘bloggable’ and ’scareware’, have been added to the Oxford Dictionaries for the first time, thanks to the Internet.

Experts from Oxford Dictionaries Online said the web’s influence on the English language was increasing.

New entries include the words “scareware”, which means malicious computer programmes, “trackpad” (touchpad) and “buttload” (a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Internet words ‘bloggable’ and ’scareware’ enter Oxford Dictionary.

Punjab child actor fakes kidnapping, writes apology

MOHALI – Having learnt a few drama tricks by acting in a Bollywood flick did not come in handy for a 10-year-old boy as his dramatic kidnapping turned out to be fake. He has written an apology to police and his parents.

Sahibjit Singh, a resident of Phase VI of this Punjab town, sent a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Punjab child actor fakes kidnapping, writes apology.

Diplomats attack Sarkozy for pursuing ‘amateurish’ French foreign policy

PARIS – An anonymous group of French diplomats known only by the name “Marly” has hit out at President Nicolas Sarkozy for pursuing a foreign policy that is impulsive, amateurish and preoccupied with the nation’s image in the media.

The group, named after the Paris caf??? where the diplomats first met, published the broadside in yesterday’s …. Read the original article  : Diplomats attack Sarkozy for pursuing ‘amateurish’ French foreign policy.

Murder attempt on Shumaila’s uncle for refusing to patch-up with Davis

FAISALABAD – A relative of Shumaila Kanwal, who had committed suicide after the murder of her husband Fahim by US official Raymond Davis, is battling for his life after three armed men forcibly fed him poisonous pills.

The three men gave poison to Shumaila’s uncle Muhammad Sarwar on Wednesday night after barging into his house in …. Original source  : Murder attempt on Shumaila’s uncle for refusing to patch-up with Davis.

Is Chelsea Clinton’s husband on the verge of a breakdown?

LONDON – Chelsea Clinton’s husband Marc Mezvinsky is on the verge of a breakdown, according to friends.

Since rumours of a split rocked their marriage earlier this month, the couple has made a huge show of togetherness.

But it seems their efforts have been in vain, as friends claim the former investment banker needs …. Original source  : Is Chelsea Clinton’s husband on the verge of a breakdown?.

Son says Gaddafi wants to remain Libya’s ‘Big Father’

LONDON – One of the seven sons of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has revealed that the tyrant wants to stay on as the “Big Father” of Libya in spite of the unrest that is spreading across the country.

According to Sky News, Saadi Gaddafi has told the Financial Times that his father expects to be the “big …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US, India to convene Joint Task Force on reducing climate damaging HFCs

WASHINGTON – The United States and India have agreed to convene a Joint Task Force (JTF) that will examine effective approaches to reduce the use of climate-damaging hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

The task force is being established in recognition of the challenges faced by the current phaseout of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that …. Source  : Gaea News Network.