Former union minister Digvijay Singh dies in London

NEW DELHI – Former union minister and Lok Sabha MP from Bihar Digvijay Singh passed away in a hospital in London, a member of his personal staff said here Thursday. He was 54.

“He died at the St. Thomas Hospital London,” his aide S.K. Mishra said.
Digvijay Singh, a former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader, won …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Former union minister Digvijay Singh dies in London.

Manali-Leh highway to shut June 28

SHIMLA – The Manali-Leh highway will be closed June 28 when United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi visits Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, an official said Thursday.
“Sonia Gandhi is coming to lay the foundation stone of Rohtang Tunnel in the Solang Valley,” Deputy Commissioner B.M. Nanta told IANS on telephone from Kullu town. …. Read the original article  : Manali-Leh highway to shut June 28.

2 damaged candidates in Illinois Senate race after revelation of exaggerated military claims

Navy exaggerations damage Ill. Senate candidate

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Republican Mark Kirk has stepped on a political landmine of his own creation, leaving him as damaged as his Democratic opponent in the race for an Illinois Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.
Kirk, a 21-year veteran in the Navy Reserve, was caught exaggerating his military … Read : 2 damaged candidates in Illinois Senate race after revelation of exaggerated military claims.

Complicated portrait of Blagojevich emerges from FBI tapes played at corruption trial

Shades of Blagojevich come through in FBI tapes
CHICAGO – A complicated picture of Rod Blagojevich is emerging from FBI tapes being played at the former Illinois governor’s corruption trial.
His former chief of staff, John Harris, has been on the stand all week and is expected to be called again Thursday. But it’s the … Read more >>.

Relief greets Obama’s choice of Gen. Petraeus as new Afghanistan war commander

Relief greets Obama pick for new war commander
KABUL, Afghanistan – America’s Afghan and international allies embraced the choice of Gen. David Petraeus to run the war in Afghanistan, hoping the architect of the Iraq surge will seamlessly pursue the strategy laid down by his predecessor and smooth over divisions that led to his …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Canadian PM issues unqualified apology to kin of Air India victims

TORONTO – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday issued an unqualified apology to the relatives of the victims of the Air India plane bombing of 1985.

The powerful and emotional apology was issued on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy in Toronto.

“I will make no attempt to make any sense of it. This was …. Read the original article  : here.

PM Harper’s Kanishka crash apology stirs strong emotions among Indo-Canadians

Surrey (British Columbia, Canada)/TORONTO – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology about the Air India disaster reverberated across the country, stirring strong emotions among a new generation of Indo-Canadians.

“It means a lot,” said Romy Jassal, who was only seven at the time of the terrorist bomb explosion.

“I respect it, just in memory of those who [..] Read the original article: here.

Not in wildest dreams, says dad of new Australian PM

SYDNEY – The father of Julia Gillard, who became Australia’s first female prime minister Thursday, said he was elated but he had not anticipated “anything like this” in his wildest dreams.

John Gillard told reporters at his Adelaide home Thursday that he was “elated, excited, mindful of the enormous job ahead of binding the party together”. …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Hong Kong passes Beijing-backed electoral reforms that critics say will delay democracy

Hong Kong passes Beijing-backed electoral reforms

HONG KONG – Hong Kong legislators have approved Beijing-backed electoral reforms that critics say will delay democracy in this former British colony.
The proposals that expand Hong Kong’s 800-member leader selection committee to 1,200 people received 46 votes for and 13 against. Pro-democracy legislators who oppose the bill say the changes … Read more »».

Geelani booked under Public Safety Act

SRINAGAR – The crackdown on separatists in Jammu and Kashmir continued Thursday as hardliner Syed Ali Geelani was booked under the Public Safety Act while moderate Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was put under house arrest.

“Geelani has been booked for provocative speeches inciting youths to violence. We have booked him under the Public Safety Act. I have … Read more >>>.

Julia Gillard becomes Australia’s first female Prime Minister

CANBERRA J – Julia Gillard became Australia’s first female Prime Minister after Kevin Rudd stepped down in tears as the ruling Labour Party’s leader at the ballot meeting.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce will swear her in as the Prime Minister at 12.30pm (AEST).

Ms. Gillard was unanimously elected to the post.

Kevin Rudd became emotional as … Original source on Gaea Times at : Julia Gillard becomes Australia’s first female Prime Minister.

Jaswant Singh to rejoin BJP

NEW DELHI – Lok Sabha MP and former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh will rejoin the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) later Thursday, a party spokesman said.

He will be admitted into the party in the presence of senior leader L.K. Advani and party president Nitin Gadkari, spokesman Ramnath Kovind told IANS.
Jaswant Singh’s reinduction into the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

CEOs of Disney, Boeing, Hewlett-Packard join NYC mayor to advocate for immigration reform

NYC mayor, major CEOs lobby for immigration reform

NEW YORK – Chief executives of several major corporations such as Boeing, Disney and Hewlett-Packard are joining New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to form a coalition advocating for immigration reform.
Their goals include a path to legal status for all undocumented immigrants now in the United States.
The group includes …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : CEOs of Disney, Boeing, Hewlett-Packard join NYC mayor to advocate for immigration reform.

Thousands of Palestinians live in fear of being expelled as Israel tightens rules on movement

Fearing expulsion, Palestinians stay home
JENIN, West Bank – The Helou family is so worried about getting expelled to Gaza by Israeli authorities that they’re all but trapped in this West Bank town. They couldn’t even leave to get their disabled son the best possible surgery to let him walk.

Some 20,000 Palestinians in the West Bank …. Source  : Thousands of Palestinians live in fear of being expelled as Israel tightens rules on movement.

India to press Pakistan for anti-terror action

ISLAMABAD – The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan will Thursday hold talks on all issues, including terrorism and Kashmir, the first such effort at their level after the Bhutan thaw to explore trust-building steps to revive the bilateral dialogue.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will have delegation-level talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman … Read more >>>.

Homeland Security to use unmanned surveillance aircraft along US-Mexico border

Homeland Security to use drones along border

WASHINGTON – The Homeland Security Department will use unmanned surveillance aircraft and other technological upgrades in its ongoing effort to protect the southern border of the United States.
The department said Wednesday it has obtained Federal Aviation Administration permission to operate unmanned planes along the Texas border and throughout the … Original article on : Homeland Security to use unmanned surveillance aircraft along US-Mexico border.

Divisions in Hong Kong pro-democracy camp widen in political reform debate

Hong Kong Democrats split in political reform vote

HONG KONG – A second Hong Kong Democrat defied his party Thursday and said he will vote against Beijing-backed political reforms, as divisions among the former British colony’s political opposition widened on the second day of debate on an election bill.
With the Chinese government preferring gradual changes to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Divisions in Hong Kong pro-democracy camp widen in political reform debate.

We are sorry, says Canada 25 years after Air India bombing

TORONTO – In a historic step on the 25th anniversary of the Air India bombing Wednesday, Canada formally accepted blame for the tragedy and apologised to the victim families.

“We are sorry… your pain is our pain… as you grieve so we grieve,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the victim families at a memorial service here. …. Original source  : We are sorry, says Canada 25 years after Air India bombing.

Australia’s ruling party ousts Kevin Rudd, installs first woman prime minister

Australia gets its 1st female PM as Rudd ousted

CANBERRA, Australia – A sudden revolt within Australia’s ruling party gave the country its first woman prime minister, who promised Thursday to safeguard her government’s reforms in education, health and industrial law.
Julia Gillard had been deputy to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd since their Labor Party swept to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Australia’s ruling party ousts Kevin Rudd, installs first woman prime minister.

Tulalip Tribes member Tracie Stevens to head National Indian Gaming Commission

Senate confirms new Indian gaming commission chair

WASHINGTON – The Senate has confirmed a member of the Tulalip Tribes in Washington state as chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Tracie Stevens most recently served as senior adviser to Assistant Interior Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk. She also has worked in various capacities for her … Read more >>>.