After Iraq war, Blair was in deep depression and wanted to quit

LONDON – After the Iraq war, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was so deeply depressed that he told then Chancellor of Exchequer Gordon Brown and Home Secretary John Prescott that he would quit No 10 the following summer.

A new book by the Observer’s Andrew … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : After Iraq war, Blair was in deep depression and wanted to quit.

Tajikistan votes in parliamentary election

Dushanbe, Feb 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Polls opened Sunday in Tajikistan’s parliamentary election, with the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan led by incumbent President Emomali Rakhmon expected to consolidate its power in the legislature.

The People’s Democratic Party is the largest among the eight officially registered political parties in Tajikistan, numbering 85,000 members. The party currently …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tajikistan votes in parliamentary election.

Dhaka objects to EU’s criticism on ethnic violence

DHAKA – Bangladesh Sunday termed the European Union’s statement alleging human rights abuses in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) as “unfortunate” and “not based on facts” and urged EU to “behave responsibly”.

The foreign ministry in a statement said that “baseless” statements could lead to a deterioration of a volatile situation in the hill tracts. …. Original article  : Dhaka objects to EU’s criticism on ethnic violence.

Tributes to Morarji Desai on his birth anniversary

NEW DELHI – Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani led the nation in paying floral tributes to former prime minister Morarji Desai at Parliament House on his 114th birth anniversary Sunday.

Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan, MPs, former MPs and parliament officials also offered … Read : Tributes to Morarji Desai on his birth anniversary.

Four Independent MPs want their grouping recognised

NEW DELHI – Four independent MPs, led by expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh, are hoping Speaker Meira Kumar would recognise their grouping ‘Lok Morcha’ as a single block.
Apart from Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh, the other members of the group are: former Jharkhand assembly speaker Inder Singh Namdhari, former union minister … Read more >>>.

Brown’s temper tantrums ‘just like Adolf Hitler’

LONDON – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is reportedly like the ranting Adolf Hitler character in movie ‘Downfall’, which covers the last days of the dictator, according to his Downing Street entourage.

Fed up of his temper tantrums, staff has apparently dreamed up code … Read more >>.

Saudi Arabia can be an interlocutor with Pakistan: Tharoor

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia, with its close ties with Islamabad, could be a “valuable interlocutor” in improving India’s ties with Pakistan, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said here Sunday.
“We feel Saudi Arabia has a long and close relationship with Pakistan and that makes Saudi a more valuable interlocutor … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Saudi Arabia can be an interlocutor with Pakistan: Tharoor.

Do svidanya Vancouver: It’s time to move on to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Games

After Vancouver, now it’s Russia’s turn in 2014
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – From the Pacific coast to the shores of the Black Sea. From the peaks of western Canada to the Caucasus mountains of southern Russia. From gleaming North American skyline to palm-fringed resort in the former Soviet Union.
Do svidanya (goodbye) Vancouver. Do vstretchi …. Original article  : Do svidanya Vancouver: It’s time to move on to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Games.

Saudi media gives wide coverage to Manmohan’s visit

RIYADH – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the first by an Indian prime minister in 28 years, is being widely covered by the Saudi press with the Arab News headlining the front page with “Indian PM on historic visit”.
Stating that the visit was long overdue, the daily, in its editorial, … Read more »».

Stress-related illness rocket under Brown’s premiership in Whitehall

LONDON – A survey, which compared the first six months of Gordon Brown’s premiership with the last six of former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s, has implied that Brown’s dark moods could affect more than just the staff at Number 10.

Stress levels for staff across Whitehall soared when Brown … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Stress-related illness rocket under Brown’s premiership in Whitehall.

India, Saudi Arabia to sign about ten agreements

RIYADH – Around ten agreements, including an extradition treaty, is likely to be signed during the current visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Saudi Arabia. A Riyadh Declaration is likely to cement the bilateral ties that have gone “beyond the normal cliches”, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said [..] Read the original article: here.

Brown ‘exploded’ when Blair refused to quit

LONDON – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is believed to have exploded with rage when former Prime Minister Tony Blair backtracked on a pledge to stand down after the Iraq war.

The allegation is made in the new book ‘The End Of The Party’ by British political …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Brown ‘exploded’ when Blair refused to quit.

In diplomacy, words can make or mar (Capital Buzz)

NEW DELHI – The first formal talks between India and Pakistan since the Mumbai attacks threatened to blur the distinction between fact and fiction as far as 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed was concerned.
The Indian side was shocked and outraged at Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, a veteran diplomat well regarded in India, describing …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : In diplomacy, words can make or mar (Capital Buzz).

King Saud University to confer doctorate on Manmohan Singh

RIYADH – The King Saud University will confer a doctorate on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The conferment of a doctorate is being seen as another mark of respect extended to Dr. Singh by the Saudi leadership.
The visiting dignitary has already been accored an unprecedented reception …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

NC-Congress to jointly fight municipal polls

JAMMU – Ruling coalition partners in Jammu and Kashmir — National Conference (NC) and Congress — will jointly contest the upcoming municipal polls in the state, according to official sources.

The polls are scheduled to be held in April this year.
According to the sources, the NC and the Congress will contest all those seats, which …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Quit if you can’t govern, Zia tells Hasina

DHAKA – Bangladesh’s opposition leader Khaleda Zia has announced a mass agitation against the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, asking her to quit if she cannot govern properly.
“The country is not functioning, all institutions are inoperative. The caretaker government has taken the country 20 years back and it will further go back … Read : Quit if you can’t govern, Zia tells Hasina.

War crimes trial not closed, Dhaka tells Islamabad

DHAKA – Bangladesh has disputed Pakistan’s claim that the issue of trying those who killed unarmed civilians during the run-up to Dhaka’s freedom in 1971 was closed after the 1974 tripartite agreement the two nations signed with India.
Preparing to try hundreds of Islamists who sided with the then Pakistan regime, Dhaka wants Islamabad … Read : War crimes trial not closed, Dhaka tells Islamabad.

Obama names new social secretary to replace ‘gatecrashed’ aide

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama moved quickly to name a new social secretary to replace Desiree Rogers at the centre of a controversy over two wannabe reality TV stars crashing his first state dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
A day after Rogers, a close friend of the Obamas from their Chicago days, stepped …. Original source  : Obama names new social secretary to replace ‘gatecrashed’ aide.

Other diplomats who saved lives

Other diplomats who saved lives
Some of the diplomats who, like George Mantello in Geneva, played a role in helping Jewish and other refugees to flee the Nazis:

Hiram Bingham IV: U.S. consular official in Marseille, France, who defied State Department regulations by issuing visas, safe passes and letters of transit to Jews and other refugees fleeing …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Other diplomats who saved lives.

Former President George W. Bush tells Christian school faith helped him in tough times

Former president Bush: Faith helped in tough times
FORT WORTH, Texas – Former President George W. Bush says he turned to his faith during tough times in his eight years in office.
He told more than 1,100 people at a banquet Saturday night for Fort Worth Christian School that he didn’t see how … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Former President George W. Bush tells Christian school faith helped him in tough times.