Breaking News – Newsletter for February 26, 2011

Yasin Malik begins fast against detention of youths

SRINAGAR – Yasin Malik, who heads the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), began a day-long fast in Srinagar Saturday morning to protest the arrest of youths by police. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, has denied that minors were being detained.

As Malik began his fast in the uptown Maisuma locality of the …. Original source  : Yasin Malik begins fast against detention of youths.

Jaipur’s mother of 66 fashioning new lives

JAIPUR – She has not given birth to them, but she proudly calls herself the mother of 66 children. Manan Chaturvedi, 35, would probably have become a top fashion designer earning fabulously and living in style. But she chose not to and dumped midway her promising career in fashion designing.

Chaturvedi, who has three children …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

ISI angered by “desire of Obama administration to go through civilian govt” for visas

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence is enraged by the inclination of the Obama administration to go through Pakistan’s civilian government for getting visas issued.

The Central Intelligence Agency ’s relations with the ISI had come under strain before the arrest of double murder-accused …. Source  : ISI angered by “desire of Obama administration to go through civilian govt” for visas.

Nurse ‘lover’ sticks by Gaddafi through thick and thin

LONDON – Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi’s ‘voluptuous blonde’ personal nurse is on his side even when power is slipping through his fingers, it has emerged.

Galyna Kolotnytska is said to be at his side despite his vow to ‘martyr’ himself in a bloody final stand, reports the Sun.

Gaddafi … Read : Nurse ‘lover’ sticks by Gaddafi through thick and thin.

57-yr-old becomes UK’s oldest surrogate mum by giving birth to own
Grandson

LONDON – A 57-year-old woman has given birth to her own grandson to become the oldest surrogate mother in Britain.

Pamela Butler carried her daughter Nichola’s baby in her womb because the latter was not medically fit.

Butler gave birth to healthy 5lb 12oz Josef by Caesarean section in August, at … Read : 57-yr-old becomes UK’s oldest surrogate mum by giving birth to own
Grandson.

Adolescent Indian girls most vulnerable: UNICEF report

NEW DELHI – With the highest adolescent population in India, the real challenge for the nation is to provide nutrition, health and education in this segment, especially for girls, according to a UNICEF report.

The report titled ‘Adolescence: Age of …. Original source  : Adolescent Indian girls most vulnerable: UNICEF report.

New Zealand may face further quake aftershocks; Oz seismologist

WELLINGTON – An Australian seismologist has warned that Christchurch could face earthquake aftershocks for a year and added that Wellington is at risk of experiencing bigger earthquake.

“I think there will be lots of aftershocks around Christchurch for about a year, [..] Read the original article: here.

Osama Bin Laden still alive, in touch with al-Qaeda, claims al- Zawahiri

BAGHDAD – One of Osama Bin Laden’s close associates has revealed that the 9/11 terror leader is still alive and in touch with his organisation.

Ayman al-Zawahiri has claimed in an online video that Osama had ordered his al-Qaeda network to avoid “indiscriminate” attacks on Muslim civilians, The Sun reports. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Osama Bin Laden still alive, in touch with al-Qaeda, claims al- Zawahiri.

Assange attacks British judge’s extradition order

LONDON – The Australian founder of the whistleblowing web site, WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has attacked a British judge’s attempts to extradite him to Sweden, terming it a “rubber-stamping process”.

The judge ruled that Assange should be extradited to Sweden to answer allegations of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Assange attacks British judge’s extradition order.

Matt Damon says on-screen kiss with Emily Blunt was ‘very awkward’

LONDON – Matt Damon has revealed that his seven-second on- screen kiss with Emily Blunt was “very, very, very, very uncomfortable”.

The pair star alongside each other in the upcoming action thriller, The Adjustment Bureau, and were promoting the film on a …. Read the original article  : Matt Damon says on-screen kiss with Emily Blunt was ‘very awkward’.

Rudd says Libya in grip of civil war, urges Aussies to leave

DUBAI – Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has urged Australians residing in Libya to get out of the country as soon as possible, as it effectively is in a state of civil war.

Speaking from Dubai en route to meetings with the new Egyptian government, Rudd … Read more >>.

Iran informs IAEA inspectors of Bushehr nuke plant setback

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN – Iran has reportedly told atomic inspectors this week that it had run into a serious problem at a newly completed nuclear reactor in Bushehr.

The plant was supposed to start feeding electricity into the national grid this month, the New York Times reports.

According to the paper, the … Read more »».

Bush cancels scheduled speech in Denver to avoid being seen together with Assange

WASHINGTON – Former US President George W. Bush had cancelled his scheduled speech on Friday after he came to know that the group that invited him, the Young Presidents Organization, had also asked the controversial Wikileaks founder Julian Assange … Read more : Bush cancels scheduled speech in Denver to avoid being seen together with Assange.

Raymond Davis’ family reaches Pakistan

LAHORE – The family of US official Raymond Davis, who shot dead two men in Lahore, has arrived in Pakistan, a media report said Saturday.

Davis’ family reached the country Thursday morning, the daily Dawn reported.
The family comprises a woman, two men and three children. There was tight security when they arrived and [..] Read the original article: here.

Davis case fallout: ISI asks CIA to unmask its contractors operating in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence has demanded an accounting by the US’ Central Intelligence Agency of all its contractors working in the country as a fallout from the arrest of alleged CIA agent Raymond Davis, a senior Pakistani intelligence official has claimed.

Davis, who …. Read the original article  : here.

Anyone advising to have wars like Iraq, Afghanistan should have head examined: Gates

WEST POINT – United States Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has bluntly told West Point cadets that any senior official advising the president to deploy huge land armies in conflict zones like Iraq and Afghanistan in the future, should have his or her head examined.

“In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the …. Read the original article  : Anyone advising to have wars like Iraq, Afghanistan should have head examined: Gates.

Landslides disrupting vehicular movement in Himachal Pradesh

KULLU – Landslides caused by snowfall and persistent rains have made road transportation difficult and dangerous in the Kullu- Manali region.

Landslides at Raison, Dobhi, Alu Ground, Rangri and Manali have disrupted vehicular traffic movement.

Sher Singh Bobh, a teacher, who had a narrow escape on Friday when a rock almost hit his car near Manali said: … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Landslides disrupting vehicular movement in Himachal Pradesh.

UK asks Gaddafi loyalists to withdraw support of face war crimes trial

LONDON – Britain has warned senior Libyan regime officials to stop supporting Colonel Gaddafi or face trial along with the autocratic ruler for crimes against humanity.

British officials are personally contacting Gaddafi’s loyalists to turn against their leader, The Guardian reports.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has urged Britons, who are still …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : UK asks Gaddafi loyalists to withdraw support of face war crimes trial.

German consulate officer detained for injuring four Pak policemen released

KARACHI – German Consulate employee Martin, who had slammed his vehicle into a parked police van at a traffic signal in Karachi in the wee hours of Saturday, has been released five hours after his arrest.

Earlier, four police personnel were injured when their mobile van standing at a signal was hit by the German consulate’s … Read more >>.

Obamas name openly gay man as social secretary

LONDON – The White House is about to get its first ever male -and openly gay – social secretary.

Jeremy Bernard will serve as social secretary to President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

The job, traditionally filled by a woman, will put Bernard in ultimate charge of dispensing sumptuous White House hospitality at events from state … Original article on : Obamas name openly gay man as social secretary.