Flying ash changes PM’s flight plan

BRASILIA – Flying ash from Iceland’s erupting volcano has forced a last-minute change in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh??s journey back home. Now he will return via Johannesburg in South Africa.
Manmohan Singh, who wrapped up his two-day visit to Brazil after attending two back-to-back India-Brazil-Russia (IBSA) summit and Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRIC) summit, leaves for India …. Original source  : Flying ash changes PM’s flight plan.

Aide to Pakistan’s ex-president Musharraf calls UN report on Bhutto killing a ‘pack of lies’

Musharraf aide calls UN’s Bhutto report ‘lies’
ISLAMABAD – A U.N. report on the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is a “pack of lies” that wrongly implicates ex-President Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan’s security forces for not stopping her killing, an aide to Musharraf said Friday.
Bhutto was killed in a Dec. 27, 2007, … Read more »»».

A day in the life of summit-hopping Manmohan (Brasilia Diary)

BRASILIA – Two summits and three bilateral meetings, all packed in one day. Trust Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to manage a killing schedule of back-to-back meetings and still look fresh and energetic!
The prime minister started his day one in Brasilia with a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao and followed it with … Read more »».

Turkish Cypriot leadership election casts doubt over talks to reunify divided island

Turkish Cypriot poll clouds peace talk prospects

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Turkish Cypriots are to vote Sunday in an election cast as a choice between a dovish incumbent striving for reunification with rival Greek Cypriots and a hardline challenger seeking to bolster a breakaway state.
Opinion polls show most of the tiny, breakaway state’s 164,000 voters will choose …. Original article  : Turkish Cypriot leadership election casts doubt over talks to reunify divided island.

Musharraf govt.’deliberately’ failed to provide security cover to Benazir: UN report

NEW YORK – The much awaited United Nations (UN) enquiry commission’s report over former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination has blamed the then Musharraf government of ‘deliberately’ failing to probe the December 2007 gun and bomb attack, saying the tragedy could have been averted if adequate security arrangements would have been made.

“The Musharraf government …. Source article  : Musharraf govt.’deliberately’ failed to provide security cover to Benazir: UN report.

IBSA has entered period of consolidation, must focus on new intiatives: PM

BRASILIA – Stating that the India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) grouping has entered a phase of consolidation, visiting Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday that leaders and governments of these three countries should focus implementing various initiatives taken up under its framework.
Delivering an opening statement at the start of … Read more »».

India, Brazil laud progress on Doha Round of Trade Negotiations

BRASILIA – Brazil’s President Luiz In??cio Lula da Silva and visiting Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday agreed that significant progress has already been achieved in the Doha Round of Trade Negotiations.
A joint statement issued after a bilateral meeting between the two held on the sidelines of the IBSA and BRIC …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Zardari’s key powers slashed as Pak Senate approves constitutional amendment bill

ISLAMABAD – The historic 18th Constitutional Amendment bill, which would transfer President Asif Ali Zardari’s key powers to the Prime Minister’s residence, has been passed by the Pakistan Senate by an overwhelming two-third majority.
Describing the passage of the bill as a ‘landmark’ event in the … Read : Zardari’s key powers slashed as Pak Senate approves constitutional amendment bill.

E-mail shows ex-CIA director agreed with decision to destroy tapes of suspect’s waterboarding

Destruction of videotapes documented in CIA e-mail

WASHINGTON – Internal CIA e-mails show the former agency head, Porter Goss, agreed with a top aide’s 2005 decision to destroy videotapes of the harsh interrogation of a terror suspect, a controversial action that remains the focus of an FBI investigation.
The documents show that, despite Goss’ apparent agreement, CIA … Read more : E-mail shows ex-CIA director agreed with decision to destroy tapes of suspect’s waterboarding.

BJP insists on Tharoor’s resignation

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday threatened not to let parliament function till Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor resigned over the IPL controversy.

“Why should we listen to his statement? He should quit. We will not allow the house to function till he quits,” said BJP deputy leader Gopinath Munde. …. Read the original article  : BJP insists on Tharoor’s resignation.

Liberal law professor Goodwin Liu ready for GOP grilling in Judiciary Committee

Liberal court pick ready for Senate GOP grilling
WASHINGTON – California law professor Goodwin Liu will be a test case of President Barack Obama’s ability to win confirmation for a liberal appeals court nominee.
Round One is Friday, when Liu – nominated for a San Francisco-based appeals court – appears before … Original source on Gaea Times at : Liberal law professor Goodwin Liu ready for GOP grilling in Judiciary Committee.

BRIC can recast world order: Manmohan

BRASILIA – The BRIC grouping of the world??s top emerging economies, accounting for 20 percent of global GDP, have a key role in recasting the global architecture of governance and in setting the pace of global economic recovery, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Manmohan Singh made a vigorous case for a “multipolar, equitable, …. Original article  : BRIC can recast world order: Manmohan.

US, Sri Lankan militaries in joint exercise

COLOMBO – The Sri Lankan military and the US Navy have conducted a joint humanitarian exercise in Trincomalee in the country’s east, the US embassy said Friday.

The event included civilians from the Disaster Management Centre and the ministry of healthcare and nutrition. The focus of the exercise was humanitarian assistance, an embassy statement … Read this article on Gaea Times at : US, Sri Lankan militaries in joint exercise.

President Obama orders hospitals to extend medical rights to same-sex couples

Obama extends health care rights to gay partners
WASHINGTON – In a move hailed as a step toward fairness for same-sex couples, President Barack Obama is ordering that nearly all hospitals allow patients to say who has visitation rights and who can help make medical decisions, including gay and lesbian partners.
The White House on [..] Read the original article: here.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till Monday

NEW DELHI – The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till Monday with angry opposition MPs, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), creating a furore demanding a discussion on the IPL row involving Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.
The upper house of parliament will reconvene at 11 a.m. Monday. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Rajya Sabha adjourned till Monday.

India, Brazil back each other for UN seat

BRASILIA – India and Brazil, Latin America??s largest economy, have backed each other for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and agreed to expand their cooperation in areas ranging from technology, civilian nuclear energy to counter-terrorism.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held wide-raging talks with Brazilian President Lula da … Original source on Gaea Times at : India, Brazil back each other for UN seat.

Tharoor lays statement amid din, Lok Sabha adjourned

NEW DELHI – Unable to read out his statement on alleged links with the Kochi IPL franchise, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor Friday laid it on the table of the house. The uproar saw a second adjournment of the house till 2 p.m.
…. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Tharoor lays statement amid din, Lok Sabha adjourned.

Rajya Sabha adjourned over Tharoor IPL row

NEW DELHI – The Rajya Sabha was adjourned Friday over the opposition demanding a debate on the IPL row involving Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.

As soon as the house assembled at 11 a.m., the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members S.S. Ahluwalia and Ravi Shankar Prasad were on their feet demanding …. Read the original article  : Rajya Sabha adjourned over Tharoor IPL row.

Cuban academic says corruption, not political protest, is island’s big threat

Cuban academic says corruption island’s big threat

HAVANA – Corruption at the highest levels of government – not the meddling of a small band of dissidents – is the greatest threat to Cuba’s communist system, a leading academic said in a highly unusual opinion posted Thursday on a state Web site.
The article by Esteban Morales – … Read more »»».

After nuclear summit, top US diplomat to visit India

WASHINGTON – Close on the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit here, the US’ second top ranking diplomat will visit India “to discuss a range of bilateral and multilateral issues that advance our bilateral relationship”.
Deputy Secretary James B. Steinberg is travelling to India and Bangladesh April 20-22. This is his first …. Original source  : After nuclear summit, top US diplomat to visit India.