Home ministers’ meeting ‘immensely promising’: Pakistani media

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani media have welcomed the bonhomie between India and Pakistan following the meeting of their home ministers, but expressed apprehension that the warmth may fizzle out if both countries do not move beyond their entrenched demands.

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram reached Pakistan Friday to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Home ministers’ meeting ‘immensely promising’: Pakistani media.

Sudarsanam seventh lawmaker to die in 13th Tamil Nadu assembly

CHENNAI – Congress lawmaker D. Sudarsanam is the seventh member of the 13th Tamil Nadu assembly to have died during the tenure (2006-2011) of the state legislature.

The Congress Legislative Party leader died in a hospital in Coimbatore Saturday night following cardiac arrest. He was attending the first World Classical Tamil Conference there.
Besides Sudarsanam, …. Source article  : Sudarsanam seventh lawmaker to die in 13th Tamil Nadu assembly.

Guinea holds first free election after era of army rule

Guinea holds first free election
CONAKRY, Guinea – Guinea on Sunday held its first free election since independence more than half a century ago, a vote many hope will finally end decades of harsh military rule and launch a new democratic era.

On the eve of the ballot, the country’s powerful junta leader vowed to ensure fairness … Read more >>.

Yeddyurappa faces tough assembly session from Monday

BANGALORE – Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa faces the most difficult assembly session in his two-year rule as it starts Monday in the backdrop of the Lok Ayukta (ombudsman) resigning over “the government’s indifference to fighting corruption”.

The resignation by N. Santosh Hegde, a retired Supreme Court judge, a year ahead of completion of his five-year …. Source article  : Yeddyurappa faces tough assembly session from Monday.

Honour killings: Chickens of identity politics come home to roost (Comment)

Even a decade ago, khap panchayats – the caste-based village councils with their kangaroo courts functioning mainly in Haryana – were virtually unknown, and sporadic “honour killings” were reported only from northwest Pakistan. Now, these make headline news in India almost every day.

To understand this regressive phenomenon, it may be necessary to go back to … Read more >>.

Carla Bruni may get to see Taj Mahal later this year

TORONTO – When French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the Taj Mahal in 2008, he was overawed by the monument of love, but could not show it to his then friend and now First Lady Carla Bruni.
This cherished moment is likely to be realised later this year, as Sarkozy has accepted Prime Minister Manmohan …. Source  : Carla Bruni may get to see Taj Mahal later this year.

G20 heads for compromise on budget cuts and growth

TORONTO – The leaders of the world’s 20 most powerful developed and developing economies (G20) looked to be heading for agreement on how to strike a balance between cutting their budget deficits and boosting growth, at a summit Saturday in Toronto.
Ahead of the summit, diplomats had said that the US, European Union and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : G20 heads for compromise on budget cuts and growth.

Manmohan Singh meets UK PM, seeks assurances to ensure global fiscal recovery

TORONTO – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, met his British counterpart David Cameron on Saturday, and told him that India would like to see the international community make continued and concerted efforts to ensure global economic recovery.

The bilateral meeting, which took place …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Manmohan Singh meets UK PM, seeks assurances to ensure global fiscal recovery.

Tamil Nadu Congress lawmaker Sudarsanam dead

CHENNAI – Congress lawmaker D. Sudarsanam died following a cardiac arrest Saturday night in Coimbatore, where he was attending the first World Classical Tamil Conference, hospital authorities said. He was 67.

The Tamil Nadu Congress Legislative Party leader was admitted to the Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital in Coimbatore, some 500 km from here, after he …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Kyrgyzstan votes in key referendum that interim government hopes will legitimize its power

Kyrgyzstan votes in key referendum after violence

OSH, Kyrgyzstan – The people of violence-wracked Kyrgyzstan voted Sunday on a new constitution that the interim government hopes will legitimize the power it seized after a deadly uprising.
The Central Asian nation was on high security alert for the vote, deploying almost 8,000 police officers and an equal number … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Kyrgyzstan votes in key referendum that interim government hopes will legitimize its power.

US extends wartime shield over South Korea

TORONTO – The US agreed Saturday that it would take command of South Korean forces in the case of an outbreak of war until at least 2015, a nod to growing tensions on the Korean peninsula.
The decision came during a meeting between US President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak on … Read : US extends wartime shield over South Korea.

Statement by the President on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Today we celebrate the anniversary of the United Nations’ Convention Against Torture, one of the foremost international human rights documents.  The United States was a leader in the document’s drafting, and remains dedicated to supporting its principles at home and abroad. 

I continue to believe that brutal methods of interrogation are inconsistent with our values, undermine …. Original source  : Statement by the President on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Conference Call Briefing by Ben Rhodes, Mike Froman, Ambassador Jeff Bader, and Danny Russel

PRESS BRIEFING
BY BEN RHODES, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS;
MIKE FROMAN, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS;
AMBASSADOR JEFF BADER, SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR
ASIAN AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL;
AND DANNY RUSSEL, DIRECTOR FOR ASIAN AFFAIRS
AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
 
Via Conference Call

6:10 P.M. EDT
 
     MR. HAMMER:   Thank you, everybody, for holding on.  I know …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Armed mob breaks up political rally in Mexico; 3 dead, 6 wounded

Attack on Mexico political rally kills 3, wounds 6

ZINACANTAN, Mexico – A mob armed with clubs, stones and guns attacked a political rally in southern Mexico on Saturday, sparking hours of clashes that left three people dead and six more wounded.
Municipal police officer Mario Lopez said the attack in the town of Nachig, in Chiapas …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Armed mob breaks up political rally in Mexico; 3 dead, 6 wounded.

Fiorina courts Latino voters but key supporter differs with her on immigration policy

Fiorina courts Latinos in California Senate race

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina is making a new pitch to Latino voters with a Spanish-language website.
But her chief supporter at a Saturday launch, former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, has sharply differing views from Fiorina on immigration.
Fiorina supports Arizona’s immigration law, which Gutierrez called an … Read more : Fiorina courts Latino voters but key supporter differs with her on immigration policy.

Europe proposes UN Security Council reforms: Sarkozy

TORONTO – Europe’s most powerful states have proposed concrete reforms to the UN Security Council to give developing powers more say, the French president said Saturday at a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Canada.

The council has five permanent members with veto powers: Britain, China, France, Russia and the US. Other major states, such as … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Europe proposes UN Security Council reforms: Sarkozy.

Oil spill cast shadow over Obama-Cameron meet

TORONTO – US President Barack Obama and new British Prime Minister David Cameron held their first bilateral meeting Saturday in Canada, overshadowed by tensions over BP Plc’s ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The leaders flew together by helicopter from the secluded resort of Huntsville, Ontario, site of the Group of Eight … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Oil spill cast shadow over Obama-Cameron meet.

Remarks by President Obama and President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China Before Bilateral Meeting

Intercontinental Downtown Hotel
Toronto, Canada
 
4:45 P.M. EDT
 
     PRESIDENT HU:  (As translated.)  Your Excellency, Mr. President, I am very pleased to see you again.  If I remember correctly, this is our sixth meeting. 
 
In April this year, you and I had a very good meeting in Washington, D.C., and reached important agreement on growing the China-U.S. relationship.  … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Remarks by President Obama and President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China Before Bilateral Meeting.

Washington state authorities search for father, toddler after car found on remote logging road

Father, toddler daughter reported missing in Wash.

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – Washington state authorities say they’re searching for a 21-year-old man and his toddler daughter after finding their abandoned car stuck on a remote logging road.
Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Peregrin says Jared Egnew took 1-year-old Madison Egnew for a drive Friday night to calm her down. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Washington state authorities search for father, toddler after car found on remote logging road.

Remarks by President Obama and President Lee Myung-Bak of the Republic of Korea After Bilateral Meeting

Intercontinental Downtown Hotel
Toronto, Canada
4:16 P.M. EDT
 
     PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I just had an excellent discussion with President Lee and his team.  Obviously we are marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean War and the extraordinary friendship and alliance between our two countries.  And when I last visited the Republic of Korea, President Lee shared with … Read : Remarks by President Obama and President Lee Myung-Bak of the Republic of Korea After Bilateral Meeting.