When burnt breakfast at Tony Blair’s home alarmed fire crews

LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair saw three fire engines coming to his 6-million-pound stately home in Buckinghamshire after he triggered smoke alarms while cooking breakfast.

An automatic alarm system summoned the firefighters to the 17th-century South Pavilion in Wotton Underwood.
Smoke had started to drift from the kitchen into other rooms in the seven-bedroomed … Read more : When burnt breakfast at Tony Blair’s home alarmed fire crews.

SP, RJD to oppose Women’s Bill in all party meeting

NEW DELHI – The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday reiterated their determination to oppose the Women’s Reservation Bill in its current form, even as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to preside over an all party meeting on the issue.
Both parties said they would continue to press …. Read the original article  : SP, RJD to oppose Women’s Bill in all party meeting.

Pakistan’s Parliamentarians welcome Constitution reform’s Bill

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (GaeaTimes.com) – Pakistan’s Parliamentarians welcomed ‘Constitution reforms bill’ when Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms Senator Mian Raza Rabbani tabled it to the Parliament on Friday.

Amidst appreciations and desk thumping, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms Senator Mian Raza Rabbani Friday presented the landmark document in Pakistan’s history to the Parliament, describing it …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pakistan’s Parliamentarians welcome Constitution reform’s Bill.

M.K. Narayanan given additional charge of Sikkim

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil Monday assigned West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan the functions of the governor of Sikkim in addition to his own duties.

Narayanan was given additional charge of Sikkim owing to the absence on leave of Sikkim Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh.
… Read more : M.K. Narayanan given additional charge of Sikkim.

Government consults parties on women’s quota bill

NEW DELHI – The government Monday consulted leaders of parties in the Lok Sabha on the controversial women’s reservation bill but some of them remained bitterly opposed to the proposed legislation.
In his capacity as the leader of the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee convened the meeting attended by a string of political … Original article on : Government consults parties on women’s quota bill.

BJP to launch e-campaign against price rise

BHOPAL – As the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh prepares to take workers from the state to participate in the party’s April 21 agitation against price rise in Delhi, its IT cell has decided to launch an e-campaign against the hike in prices, party sources said Monday.

“The state BJP … Read more : BJP to launch e-campaign against price rise.

Nepal PM says MRP printing being done in India for political reasons

KATHMANDU – Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Monday said the government has awarded the contract to print Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) to India for political and diplomatic reasons.

The Kantipur quoted Nepal as saying that vital information would not be leaked …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Nepal PM says MRP printing being done in India for political reasons.

At a glance: 5 things to know about the tea party movement in the states

5 things to know about the tea party movement
For the past year, a passionate group of Americans have rallied together under the banner of the “tea party,” altering the direction of the nation’s political discourse in the early years of Barack Obama’s presidency.
The Associated Press reviewed tea party operations in almost every state, … Read : At a glance: 5 things to know about the tea party movement in the states.

We won’t neglect Indian community, says Malaysian leader

KOTA KINABALU – Indians who had made significant contribution to Malaysia’s Sabah state would not be neglected, Chief Minister Musa Aman has assured the community.

“We have always acknowledged the contributions of the community as they are entrepreneurs and successful businessmen as well as professionals,” Aman said Sunday while attending the 12th state level convention …. Original source  : We won’t neglect Indian community, says Malaysian leader.

Government meets parties on women’s quota bill

NEW DELHI – Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P. Chidambaram will Monday meet leaders of parties in the Lok Sabha for consultations on the women’s reservation bill, which the government intends to table in the lower house in the second half of the budget session.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal will also …. Source article  : Government meets parties on women’s quota bill.

Who will be the leader? War erupts in DMK

CHENNAI – It is a family affair all right. But just how it ends will determine the future of the DMK, one of India’s oldest political parties, and the political kaleidoscope of Tamil Nadu.
As DMK chief and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi prepares to call it a day, an unlikely war has broken out … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Who will be the leader? War erupts in DMK.

‘Anything below azadi’ negotiable for Kashmir: Home Secretary (IANS Interview)

NEW DELHI – The Indian government is holding back-channel talks with separatist Hurriyat leaders on the Kashmir issue and is open to negotiating anything less than independence, says Home Secretary G.K. Pillai.
“Talks are going on and the talks will continue. These are back channel talks,” Pillai told IANS in an exclusive interview at …. Source  : ‘Anything below azadi’ negotiable for Kashmir: Home Secretary (IANS Interview).

Thai protesters plan to expand in Bangkok, defy order to leave commercial district

Defiant protesters to fan out in unnerved Bangkok

BANGKOK – Thousands of defiant anti-government demonstrators vowed Monday to expand their protests to other parts of Thailand’s unnerved capital after ignoring police orders to end their occupation of Bangkok’s paralyzed commercial district.
The protesters, mostly farmers from impoverished provincial areas, have sworn not to let up their pressure … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Thai protesters plan to expand in Bangkok, defy order to leave commercial district.

Bolivia: Exit polls give president’s allies slight advantage in state elections

Small gains for Bolivia’s Morales in state votes

LA PAZ, Bolivia – Allies of leftist President Evo Morales made modest advances in state and local elections on Sunday, according to independent exit polls.
Morales and his Movement Toward Socialism campaigned hard in opposition controlled eastern provinces where resistance is strongest to the central government’s redistribution of land … Read more »».

Raul Castro vows Cuba won’t give in to ‘blackmail’ regarding its human rights record

Castro: Cuba will resist hunger strike ‘blackmail’

HAVANA – Raul Castro called mounting international pressure over Cuba’s human rights record one of the strongest assaults its communist government has ever faced and vowed not to yield to the “blackmail” of a high-profile hunger striker.
In a 45-minute nationally televised speech, Cuba’s president said his government has the …. Original article  : Raul Castro vows Cuba won’t give in to ‘blackmail’ regarding its human rights record.

Leading Republican lawmakers call for accountability in way GOP spends its funds

Top GOP lawmakers want accountability at RNC

WASHINGTON – Two top congressional Republicans said Sunday the Republican National Committee must be held accountable for the way it uses the money it raises in light of nearly $2,000 spent for a night at a sex-themed Hollywood nightclub.
“This kind of thing has got to stop or they won’t … Original source on Gaea Times at : Leading Republican lawmakers call for accountability in way GOP spends its funds.

Defense minister prepares Germans for Afghan ‘war,’ vows probe into deadly friendly fire clash

Defense Minister prepares Germans for Afghan ‘war’

BERLIN – Germany’s defense minister on Sunday for the first time referred to military operations in Afghanistan as a war, while he promised to investigate a friendly fire clash that left six Afghan soldiers dead.
Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg broke a government taboo on the politically charged word, preparing Germans … Original article on : Defense minister prepares Germans for Afghan ‘war,’ vows probe into deadly friendly fire clash.

Official: 13 prisoners escaped during gang raid on prison in Mexican border city

Official: Gang raid freed 13 Mexican prisoners

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico – Thirteen inmates escaped when armed men stormed a prison in the northern Mexican border city of Reynosa, an official with the federal Attorney General’s Office said Sunday.
It was the second mass jailbreak in less than two weeks in Tamaulipas state, which has been wracked by …. Source  : Official: 13 prisoners escaped during gang raid on prison in Mexican border city.

Food security bill should provide maximum benefit: Congress

NEW DELHI – A day ahead of the empowered group of ministers meeting to re-look the national food security bill, the Congress Sunday said that the proposed legislation should provide maximum benefits to the needy sections of society.
“The needy sections of society should get maximum benefits,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told IANS.
He …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Food security bill should provide maximum benefit: Congress.

Senegal president announces retaking of 3 French bases to mark 50th year of independence

Senegal’s president reclaims French military bases

DAKAR, Senegal – Senegal’s president said Sunday the West African country was reclaiming three French military bases to mark its 50th year of independence from France. In Paris, however, officials said the bases’ future was still under discussion.
President Abdoulaye Wade announced that the government would retake the bases which house … Read : Senegal president announces retaking of 3 French bases to mark 50th year of independence.