Modi questioning a big step forward: SIT chief

NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD – R.K. Raghavan, chief of the Supreme Court-appointed probe panel that quizzed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the 2002 riots, said the questioning of Modi was a very big step forward in completing investigation into the communal carnage that claimed over 1,000 lives.

Modi was questioned for nearly 10 hours Saturday in Gandhinagar …. Original source  : Modi questioning a big step forward: SIT chief.

Maoists must disband its armed wing: Nepali leader

KATHMANDU – Ram Chandra Poudel, leader of the parliamentary party of the Nepali Congress (NC), Sunday said that his party would support the Maoist bid to return to power “if they gave up violence and disbanded the Maoist army”.

Poudel told the visiting Indian media: “If the Maoists try to move a no-confidence motion against the …. Original article  : Maoists must disband its armed wing: Nepali leader.

CJI, Modi share dais at law college convocation

GANDHINAGAR – A day after he was questioned by a Supreme Court-appointed panel over his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, Chief Minister Narendra Modi shared the dais with Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan here Sunday at the first annual convocation of the Gujarat National Law University.

Modi was reportedly keen that his questioning [..] Read the original article: here.

Vajpayee undergoes routine check-up at AIIMS

NEW DELHI – Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sunday underwent “routine check-up” at the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here, doctors said.

“He came to the hospital at 10.30 a.m. and left at around 1 p.m. after various routine tests were conducted on him. He had come for routine check-up,” AIIMS … Read more >>.

Thai premier agrees to meet protestors as tensions rise

BANGKOK – Thailand’s prime minister and anti-government protest leaders agreed to talk Sunday in an effort to defuse political tensions that turned violent on the weekend.

Officials said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), were set to meet at 4 p.m.
Demonstrators who had gathered outside the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Thai premier agrees to meet protestors as tensions rise.

10 percent voting in first 4 hours of Bangalore civic poll

BANGALORE – Around 10 percent of more than 6.6 million Bangaloreans eligible to vote to elect the city’s civic body cast their ballots in the first four hours of polling Sunday.

IT major Infosys founder and chief mentor N. Narayana Murthy, low-cost aviation pioneer Capt. R. Gopinath, and Lokayukta (anti-corruption ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde, a retired …. Original source  : 10 percent voting in first 4 hours of Bangalore civic poll.

Barbara Bush Hospitalized

HOUSTON, TEXAS (GaeaTimes.com)- A family spokesperson has revealed that former first lady Barbara Bush has been admitted to a hospital for undergoing certain routine tests on the advise of the family doctor. It has come to light that the 84 year old ex-first lady was hospitalized after she had been unwell for a period … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Barbara Bush Hospitalized.

Tibetan exiles’ meet to discuss candidate for PM-in-exile

DHARAMSALA – Members of the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT), the only political party of Tibetan exiles, gathered here to discuss a candidate for the post of Tibetan prime minister-in-exile.

The elections of the Kalon Tripa (Tibetan PM) will … Original article on : Tibetan exiles’ meet to discuss candidate for PM-in-exile.

Italians vote in local elections seen as test of Premier Berlusconi’s popularity

Italians hold local elections, test for Berlusconi

ROME – Voters began casting ballots Sunday in Italy’s regional elections, which are being seen as an important test of popularity for Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
The conservative leader campaigned relentlessly for the Sunday-Monday ballot, urging his supporters to vote and avert the risk of low turnout. He has seen his … Read more >>>.

Barbara Bush hospitalised

WASHINGTON – Barbara Bush, wife of former US president George H.W. Bush, has been hospitalised, a media report said Sunday.

Barbara was taken to hospital Saturday morning after “not feeling well”, Los Angeles Times quoted a family spokeswoman as saying.
Eightyfour-year-old Barbara was admitted to Methodist Hospital in Houston at 10 a.m. to undergo routine … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Barbara Bush hospitalised.

In reversal, Thai PM agrees to talk face-to-face with protesters to reduce risk of violence

In quick reversal, Thai PM to talk with protesters

BANGKOK – Thailand’s prime minister agreed Sunday to hold direct talks with leaders of anti-government protests to defuse growing tensions, making an abrupt reversal that played out on national television.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has repeatedly rejected demands from the “Red Shirt” protesters that he dissolve Parliament and …. Source  : In reversal, Thai PM agrees to talk face-to-face with protesters to reduce risk of violence.

Thai PM’s office says he agrees to hold negotiation with protesters to reduce risk of violence

Thai PM agrees to talks with protesters
BANGKOK – Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has agreed to hold face-to-face talks with protesters demanding new elections to “restore peace and minimize the chance of violence.”

Abhisit’s office made a special televised announcement Sunday morning to announce that “the prime minister has accepted the condition to negotiate with protesters.”
It …. Source article  : Thai PM’s office says he agrees to hold negotiation with protesters to reduce risk of violence.

Obama names Indian American to key agricultural post

WASHINGTON – After waiting for months for the Senate to act, President Barack Obama has announced he would bypass a vacationing senate to make recess appointments of 15 nominees, including an Indian American agricultural scientist as chief agricultural negotiator in trade talks.
Announcing his decision to nominate Indian American Islam A. Siddiqui, a B.S. … Read more : Obama names Indian American to key agricultural post.

Iran suspected of planning new nuclear sites: Report

WASHINGTON – International agencies, inspectors and western intelligence officials believe Tehran is planning to build more nuclear enrichment sites in defiance of international demands, The New York Times reported late Saturday.
Quoting anonymous sources from several governments and international agencies, the Times reported that United Nations inspectors were looking for evidence of two such …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Iran suspected of planning new nuclear sites: Report.

Obama’s challenge after week of big successes: Seizing momentum, tackling new issues

Obama must seize momentum after big week
WASHINGTON – Doubted and deeply in need of a comeback, President Barack Obama had a political dream week: a historic remaking of America’s health care system, an overhaul of how students pay for college and a groundbreaking deal with Russia to shrink nuclear arsenals.
The biggest foreign … Read more >>.

British lawmaker holds Parliament’s first same-sex marriage, now public can follow suit

UK Parliament hosts first same-sex marriage

LONDON – Britain’s Europe Minister Chris Bryant has taken part in Parliament’s first gay marriage, celebrating a civil partnership ceremony at the historic venue.
Bryant, a member of the governing Labour Party, won permission to hold his civil partnership ceremony with partner Jared Cranney at the Palace of Westminster – home [..] Read the original article: here.

Modi grilled for nine hours by SIT (Second Intro Roundup)

GANDHINAGAR – Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was Saturday grilled by a Supreme Court-appointed panel for over nine hours in two separate sessions that ended past midnight over his alleged complicity in not doing enough to stop the 2002 riots in the state.

The chief minister came out of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headquarters at …. Original source  : Modi grilled for nine hours by SIT (Second Intro Roundup).

Obama announces 15 recess appointments in agencies, citing GOP stalling tactics in Senate

Obama announces 15 recess appointments, scolds GOP
WASHINGTON – Fed up with waiting, President Barack Obama announced Saturday he would bypass a vacationing Senate and name 15 people to key administration jobs, wielding for the first time the blunt political …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Obama announces 15 recess appointments in agencies, citing GOP stalling tactics in Senate.

Palin tells tea party activists in Nevada Reid will have to explain votes when he returns home

Palin to tea party rally: Don’t sit down, shut up
SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. – Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists assembled in the dusty Nevada desert Saturday that Sen. Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his …. Original source  : Palin tells tea party activists in Nevada Reid will have to explain votes when he returns home.

Obama names 15 recess appointments in federal agencies, citing GOP stalling tactics in Senate

Obama makes 15 recess appointments, scolds GOP
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is making 15 recess appointments and blaming Senate Republicans for forcing his hand.
In a written statement, Obama says the positions include key members of his economic team, as well as members of the National Labor Relations Board and the head of Customs … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Obama names 15 recess appointments in federal agencies, citing GOP stalling tactics in Senate.