Karunakaran not unwell, just deeply saddened: Son

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran, who is in hospital, does not have any medical problem — the nonagenarian is just deeply saddened over being slighted by the party, said his only son K. Muraleedharan.

Addressing reporters here Wednesday, Muraleedharan said his father is in hospital because he is sad as despite his seniority in …. Original article  : Karunakaran not unwell, just deeply saddened: Son.

Forget past friction, Chinese daily on India ties

BEIJING – China and India need to “play a bigger role in the world” and should “leave behind their past friction and look to the future”, a leading Chinese daily said Wednesday.

An editorial in the China Daily said: “The two countries will be better positioned on global affairs if they could stand united.”
“The …. Original article  : Forget past friction, Chinese daily on India ties.

Violence erupts across Kyrgyzstan as protesters challenge police crackdown, storm buildings

Violence erupts at Kyrgyzstan opposition rallies

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Violence erupted in this strategic Central Asian nation Wednesday as thousands of protesters angry over the arrests of opposition leaders tried to seize the main government building in the capital after chasing and beating up dozens of police officers.
Police in Bishkek used rubber bullets, tear gas, water … Original source on Gaea Times at : Violence erupts across Kyrgyzstan as protesters challenge police crackdown, storm buildings.

Wooden elephants and bachata beats: census ads try cultural deep dive to boost participation

Census ads seek to boost minority participation

LOS ANGELES – Radio commercials blare ranchera tunes, beseeching Mexican-Americans to fill out their census forms. Print ads with a portrait of a Thai family with a carved elephant in the background implore Thais to do the same. So does a Congolese basketball hero in another.
The ads scream stand …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Spat between Ala. dental nonprofit, mainstream dentists may foreshadow future under Obama plan

Ala. dental spat may foreshadow Obama plan effects
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A dispute that’s broken out among Alabama dentists could be a sign of what’s to come under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
Members of the Alabama Dental Association are complaining about Sarrell Dental Center, a nonprofit corporation that treats young people on Medicaid. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Spat between Ala. dental nonprofit, mainstream dentists may foreshadow future under Obama plan.

India, China sign agreement to create a hotline for PMs

BEIJING – India and China today signed an agreement to establish a hotline between the Prime Ministers of the two countries.

The agreement was signed by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi after their first round of talks here.
This is the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : India, China sign agreement to create a hotline for PMs.

Helicopter evacuates lawmakers trapped by protesters besieging Thailand’s Parliament

Helicopter evacuates trapped Thai lawmakers

BANGKOK – Thailand’s government security agency says a Black Hawk helicopter landed at Parliament and evacuated lawmakers trapped by anti-government protesters surrounding the building.
A statement from the agency, known as CAPO, said Wednesday that the helicopter carrying “five soldiers armed with M16s landed on the Parliament’s helipad and picked up ministers …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Helicopter evacuates lawmakers trapped by protesters besieging Thailand’s Parliament.

Rights group calls on Yemen and rebels to investigate war crime allegations amid truce

Rights group urges war crimes probe in Yemen war

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Yemen’s government and the Shiite rebels it fought for years should investigate allegations they both committed war crimes and hold perpetrators to account, a human rights group urged Wednesday.
The government reached a cease-fire agreement with the northern Hawthi rebels in February. New … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Rights group calls on Yemen and rebels to investigate war crime allegations amid truce.

Clashes erupt between Kyrgyzstan’s police and anti-government protesters in capital

Kyrgyz opposition clashes with police in capital

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Clashes have broken out at an anti-government demonstration in Kyrgystan’s capital, with protesters setting fire to cars and police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.
Protesters chased police into a five-story building and beat some of them.
The opposition Wednesday is protesting rising energy prices and the arrest … Read more >>>.

Beijing silent, but US Asia allies welcome Obama’s new stance on nuclear weapons

Asian allies welcome new US nuclear stance
TOKYO – U.S. allies in Asia on Wednesday welcomed President Barack Obama’s new policy aimed at reducing the likelihood of nuclear conflict, while powerhouse China was silent over his call for Beijing to better explain its nuclear intentions.
In a much-awaited announcement, Obama vowed Tuesday to [..] Read the original article: here.

Thai TV reports protesters break into Parliament after session is aborted

Thai protesters break into Parliament
BANGKOK – Thai TV has reported that anti-government protesters have broken into the Parliament building after lawmakers aborted their session, with some of the legislators scaling a wall to escape.

Thai PBS reported that protesters pushed past riot police Wednesday to enter the Parliament grounds and that some have reached the second …. Read the original article  : Thai TV reports protesters break into Parliament after session is aborted.

Chinese president Hu to hold talks with Obama during upcoming trip to US for nuclear summit

Chinese president to meet Obama in US this month
BEIJING – Chinese President Hu Jintao will hold talks with President Barack Obama during a coming trip to the U.S. to attend a nuclear security summit in Washington, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
Hu was also scheduled to give a speech at the April 12-13 summit, …. Read the original article  : Chinese president Hu to hold talks with Obama during upcoming trip to US for nuclear summit.

Former Tamil chief minister returns to Sri Lanka – after nine years

NEW DELHI – The Tamil chief minister of Sri Lanka’s northeastern province when Indian troops were deployed has returned to the country for the first time after nearly a decade – and a year after the military routed the Tamil Tigers who had repeatedly tried to kill him.

As Sri Lanka prepares for Thursday’s nationwide election … Read more : Former Tamil chief minister returns to Sri Lanka – after nine years.

Kyrgyzstan cracks down on opposition as unrest threatens to spread to the capital

Kyrgyz opposition vows to go ahead with rallies

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Violence erupted in this strategic Central Asian nation Wednesday as thousands of protesters angry over the arrests of opposition leaders chased and beat up police officers in the capital and vowed to seize the main government building.
Police used rubber bullets, tear gas and concussion grenades … Original source on Gaea Times at : Kyrgyzstan cracks down on opposition as unrest threatens to spread to the capital.

Governors say Ariz., Nev. to join 14 other states in lawsuit over federal health care overhaul

AZ, NV to join suit over federal health care bill

PHOENIX – The governors of Arizona and Nevada say their states will join 14 others suing the federal government over health care reform.
Gov. Jan Brewer announced Arizona was joining the suit Tuesday night. She signed a bill April 1 that gave her the authority to skirt …. Original source  : Governors say Ariz., Nev. to join 14 other states in lawsuit over federal health care overhaul.

Emboldened Thai protesters poised for more protests as PM defends gentle response

Thai PM criticized for soft handling of protesters

BANGKOK – Anti-government protesters embolded by success in pushing through security forces pressed forward with planned rallies Wednesday in the Thai capital, while the prime minister came under fire for the soft-handed reaction to the unrest.
A session of Parliament was aborted Wednesday after about 1,000 protesters ringed the …. Original article  : Emboldened Thai protesters poised for more protests as PM defends gentle response.

Obama puts combating nuclear terrorism at top of agenda

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has put combating nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism at the “top of America’s nuclear agenda” to win a commitment from various nations to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years.
“For the first time, preventing nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism is now at the top of America’s nuclear …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Obama puts combating nuclear terrorism at top of agenda.

Manmohan, Gilani meeting unlikely at Washington

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani during the Nuclear Security Summit here but a meeting between the two premiers is not on the cards.
Obama’s meetings with Manmohan Singh and Gilani were listed by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs …. Original article  : Manmohan, Gilani meeting unlikely at Washington.

Bihar’s Mahadalit panel unconstitutional, says Buta

National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Buta Singh has said the Mahadalit Commission formed by the Nitish Kumar govenrment in Bihar was unconstitutional.

“The formation of this commission is totally illegal and unconstitutional. The government has no right to form this commission without the formal consent of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste. In this case, …. Original source  : Bihar’s Mahadalit panel unconstitutional, says Buta.

Now, Bihar CM to undertake Vishwas Yatra

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has announced to undertake Vishwas Yatra to seek confidence of the voters ahead of forthcoming assembly elections in the state.

“Our government has come clean on expectations of the masses and hence we plan to go to the masses to seek their confidence once again”, chief minister said at the end … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Now, Bihar CM to undertake Vishwas Yatra.