From around the Globe.

News in Brief

Posted: Mon Jan 03 2011, 00:26 hrs======================================================================

Russian plane’s black box recovered

MOSCOW: Investigators said they have found the “black box” of a passenger jet that caught fire and exploded as it taxied for takeoff in Siberia, killing three people. The Interstate Aviation Committee said Sunday the data and voice recorders from the Tu-154 had been recovered at accident site in Surgut.

1000 dead birds fall from sky in US

WASHINGTON: Over 1,000 black birds fell from the sky and were found dead in an Arkansas town. The dead birds were found over a 2-km area. It has been speculated that the flock could have been hit by lightning or high-altitude hail. Another reason cited was new year’s eve revellers shooting off fireworks in the area which could have startled the birds.

Queen orders probe into dog deaths

LONDON: At least six dogs have died and more than 30 others battling for their lives with a mystery illness that has hit the British Queen’s Sandringham estate, prompting the Monarch to order a probe. The Daily Mail said 37 dogs were taken ill after walks on the Queen’s 20,000-acre estate.

Jemima drops ‘Khan’ from her name

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s socialite ex-wife Jemima has finally dropped the “Khan” from her name. Jemima, who has decided to use her famous maiden surname Goldsmith, tweeted to her followers: “FYI - I’ve changed my user name to JemimaGoldsmith. It was time. Mostly I was bored of people asking.”

5 held for rocket attack plot: Israel

JERUSALEM: Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet on Sunday claimed to have busted a Hamas plot to fire rockets at a football stadium in Jerusalem during a Premier League game to avenge Jewish state’s offensive in Gaza two years ago.

Woman swept away in Australian flood

BRISBANE: A woman drowned after trying to cross a flooded causeway in Australia. Days of pounding rain last week left much of northeastern Australia swamped by a sea of muddy water, with flooding affecting about 2,00,000 people.

‘Schwarzenegger getting many offers’

LOS ANGELES: Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger is sifting through a stack of corporate, Hollywood and real estate offers as the politician nears a career crossroad: Monday, he’s out of a job. After seven years as Governor in Sacramento, his spokesman Aaron McLear said Schwarzenegger is sorting out “a flood of every conceivable offer”.

Hurley, Warne tweet to each other

LONDON: Elizabeth Hurley and cricketer Shane Warne have begun corresponding with each other again after reports emerged that Warne was two-timing her. Saturday, Warne asked Hurley if she had any resolutions for 2011, the Daily Mail reported. Hurley responded, “Lots of them and they all begin with Start or Stop.” When Warne asked what she meant, Hurley said, “You’re being blonde...as in Stop eating sweeties and Start doing sit ups.”  (source: the Indian express)
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