We are India’s ideal partner in Indian Ocean: Seychelles president

NEW DELHI – Seychelles is India’s ideal partner in efforts to establish peace and stability in the Indian Ocean, which is currently plagued by piracy, James Michel, president of the archipelago nation said here.

“I think Seychelles and India have an important role to play in establishing peace, stability in the region,” Michel, who was on … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : We are India’s ideal partner in Indian Ocean: Seychelles president.

Buddhadeb summoned for CPI-M Delhi meet, may not attend

NEW DELHI – West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has been asked to attend a two-day CPI-M meeting here during the weekend after the Left Front’s shocking debacle in civic polls, but he is unlikely to attend, says a senior party leader.

Bhattacharya has cited “law and order problems” in his state to tell the Communist …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US, S Korea postpone joint naval drill

SEOUL – The United States and South Korea Friday postponed a joint naval drill scheduled for next week, citing the need for more preparation on the part of the US forces.

Deputy Defence Minister Chang Kwang Il made the announcement on the sidelines of an Asian security conference in Singapore, South Korea’s KBS radio said. … Read more >>>.

India pays tribute to Buddha’s bard in Nepal

KATHMANDU – Chittadhar Tuladhar, one of Nepal’s best-loved ethnic authors who wrote an epic on Gautam Buddha, will receive a fresh lease of life nearly two decades after his death, with India funding a museum on him here.

On Friday, Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood inaugurated the spruced-up Nepal Bhasha Parishad Building in Naradevi in Kathmandu, renovated … Read more »»».

Soni in Congress list of six for Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI – The Congress Friday announced six names for the coming elections to the Rajya Sabha, with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni renominated from Punjab.
A Congress statement said the others are Mohsina Kidwai from Chhattisgarh, Dhiraj Prasad Sahu (Jharkhand), E.M.S. Natchiappan (Tamil Nadu) and Vijay J. Darda and Avinash Pande … Read more >>>.

Archives set to release records from Supreme Court nominee Kagan’s time in Clinton White House

Senators await Clinton-era files on Kagan
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s paper trail is about to get a lot longer.
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library is expected Friday to release the first batch of a 160,000-page trove of records from Kagan’s service in the former president’s White House.
Kagan, who is …. Original article  : Archives set to release records from Supreme Court nominee Kagan’s time in Clinton White House.

Fla. GOP Senate candidate Rubio faces test of politics, ethnicity in courting Hispanic vote

Fla. Senate candidate tests politics, ethnicity
MIAMI – At a boutique hotel in Miami’s upscale Coral Gables neighborhood, members of a Republican women’s group smile and gush as Senate candidate Marco Rubio enters the room. A Spanish-language television reporter approaches with a microphone.
What is his stance on the Arizona immigration law? Does he favor …. Original article  : Fla. GOP Senate candidate Rubio faces test of politics, ethnicity in courting Hispanic vote.

Naoto Kan chosen Japan’s new PM

TOKYO – Naoto Kan was chosen as Japan’s next prime minister by parliament Friday after he won an overwhelming victory in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan’s presidential election.
Emperor Akihito is to appoint Kan Japan’s 94th premier later Friday.
Kan served as finance minister and deputy prime minister in outgoing …. Original article  : Naoto Kan chosen Japan’s new PM.

Trash piles up in nation’s biggest cooperative housing complex as NYC labor dispute escalates

Trash piles up in nation’s biggest co-op complex

NEW YORK – New Yorkers living in the nation’s biggest cooperative housing complex are carrying about 40 tons of garbage daily from high-rises as a labor dispute escalates at Co-op City in the Bronx – along with fears of an urban rat infestation.
On Thursday, garbage piles rose as …. Read the original article  : Trash piles up in nation’s biggest cooperative housing complex as NYC labor dispute escalates.

Jury selection to resume on second day of former Ill. Gov. Blagojevich’s corruption trial

Jury selection to resume at Blagojevich trial
CHICAGO – Jury selection is set to resume at the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel says that on Friday he’ll begin to hear objections from attorneys about potential jurors questioned so far. That could lead to some being sent home.
On … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Jury selection to resume on second day of former Ill. Gov. Blagojevich’s corruption trial.

Obama calls off Australia trip

SYDNEY – US President Barack Obama has postponed his visit to Australia and Indonesia due to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that has caused an environmental disaster.
Obama telephoned Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indonesian President S.B. Yodhoyono, expressing his deep regret over his decision, The Age reported Friday.
The …. Original article  : Obama calls off Australia trip.

Japan’s Finance Minister takes over as PM

TOKYO – Japanese Finance Minister Naoto Kan will become his country’s sixth prime minister in five years later today after being overwhelmingly elected as his party’s leader to replace Yukio Hatoyama, who resigned on Wednesday.
According to The Australian, Kan, 63, defeated the only other … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Japan’s Finance Minister takes over as PM.

Tiananmen Square quiet as another anniversary of bloody crackdown passes

21 years later, quiet day on Tiananmen Square

BEIJING – Tourist throngs and kite-flyers milled around Tiananmen Square on Friday under the watchful eye of security forces on alert for any attempt to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations.
In the semiautonomous Chinese territory Hong Kong, thousands were expected to attend a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Tiananmen Square quiet as another anniversary of bloody crackdown passes.

Naoto Kan chosen as Japan’s next PM

TOKYO – Naoto Kan was chosen as Japan’s next prime minister by the lower house of parliament Friday after he won in the Democratic Party of Japan’s presidential election.
…. Source  : Naoto Kan chosen as Japan’s next PM.

PM’s visit not linked to dialogue with separatists: Omar

SRINAGAR – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the Kashmir Valley June 7 is not linked to the resumption of a dialogue with separatist leaders, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Monday.
“The prime minister is not coming here to start the dialogue process. He is coming here to attend the convocation … Original source on Gaea Times at : PM’s visit not linked to dialogue with separatists: Omar.

Afghan peace conference hashes out statement, likely to seeks talks with Taliban

Afghan delegates hash out peace statement
KABUL, Afghanistan – Delegates reconvened Friday for the planned final day of a national peace conference, hashing out details of a communique likely to endorse negotiations with the Taliban to try to end Afghanistan’s years of war.

With violence running at record levels, President Hamid Karzai wants to offer rank-and-file insurgents …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Afghan peace conference hashes out statement, likely to seeks talks with Taliban.

No headway on high technology exports to India

WASHINGTON – India’s demand to liberalise high technology exports to it has not found favour with the US.
A joint statement issued after the first ever India-US strategic dialogue said the two countries were “committed to approach the issue of export controls (in high technology) in the spirit of the strategic partnership between the … Original article on : No headway on high technology exports to India.

Bengal verdict: Left has only itself to blame (Comment)

The West Bengal poll results may well mark the beginning of the end for the Left. Even the most optimistic among its supporters can no longer expect the Communists to win next year’s assembly elections.
The series of setbacks for the comrades – from the panchayat polls of 2008 through last year’s parliamentary elections … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bengal verdict: Left has only itself to blame (Comment).

I am proud to go to India: Obama

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says he has to go to India to experience “all that India and its people and its incredible ancient culture have to offer”.
Announcing his plans to visit India in early November at a reception hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna at … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : I am proud to go to India: Obama.

India-US will shape the rest of this century: Clinton (Repeating for all needing)

WASHINGTON – Fight against terrorism and nuclear security topped the agenda of India and the US as they set out shape a global partnership that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said “will shape the rest of this century.”
“The global nature of the security challenges that we face today, particularly the threat posed … Original source on Gaea Times at : India-US will shape the rest of this century: Clinton (Repeating for all needing).