Parliamentary re-vote scheduled in two Sri Lankan districts

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka is to rehold parliamentary elections Tuesday in two districts where irregularities marred polling on April 8 during the nationwide voting, officials said Monday.

The failure to complete the election has delayed the final results of the parliamentary elections though the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won a convincing majority in the … Read more »»».

Sangma to be elected next Meghalaya chief minister

SHILLONG – Congress legislators are expected to meet here later Monday to elect Mukul M. Sangma as their new leader in place of outgoing Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, party leaders said.

“I am coming to Shillong today and have convened a CLP (Congress legislature party) meeting to elect a new leader,” Lapang told IANS … Read more : Sangma to be elected next Meghalaya chief minister.

‘PM was emotional when Tharoor offered to quit’

NEW DELHI – When Shashi Tharoor went to meet him and offered to quit Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared emotional and told him he believed he was clean, but he had no choice in the face of an unrelenting opposition that was determined to embarrass the government and hold up important …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Tharoor run out…but gathers fans along the way

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – He came, conquered the hearts of Keralites a year back only to stumble and fall due to his own indiscretions. Shashi Tharoor was the buzz of the town Monday, a day after he resigned as minister of state for external affairs, with some in this constituency upset and others confident he would bounce …. Original source  : Tharoor run out…but gathers fans along the way.

Curtains down on Tharoor controversy: Congress, BJP

NEW DELHI – The Shashi Tharoor controversy is a closed chapter, the Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Monday, a day after he resigned as minister of state for external affairs over the Indian Premier League (IPL) row.
“The curtains are down on the Tharoor issue after he resigned yesterday (Sunday) … Original source on Gaea Times at : Curtains down on Tharoor controversy: Congress, BJP.

Support Shashi Tharoor? Well, India Won’t!

NEW DELHI, India, (GaeaTimes.com)- It seems that there is no end to the troubles that the Congress is facing with its junior External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor. What with the IPL drama still going on, Shashi Tharoor has now been blamed of not being able to read the pulse of the Indian polity. While the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

I’m not biracial: Some African-Americans with white parent decline to check ‘white’ census box

Biracial or not? Census is a test for some
Experts anticipate an increase in the number of multiracial Americans in the 2010 census, but many people with one black parent and one white parent are choosing to only call themselves “black.”
One of those people is Laura Martin of Las Vegas. She says …. Original article  : I’m not biracial: Some African-Americans with white parent decline to check ‘white’ census box.

Israeli defense minister says world won’t put up with decades more of Palestinian occupation

Israeli defense minister says occupation must end
JERUSALEM – Israel must recognize that the world will not put up with decades more of Israeli rule over the Palestinian people, the country’s defense minister said in unusually frank remarks Monday.
Ehud Barak’s comments, on the occasion of Israel’s Memorial Day, come against the backdrop of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Israeli defense minister says world won’t put up with decades more of Palestinian occupation.

Poll: Americans’ confidence in the federal government at a 50-year low, 80 percent are wary

Poll: 4 out of 5 Americans don’t trust Washington

WASHINGTON – A new survey finds that public confidence in government is at one of the lowest points in a half century.
The poll from the Pew Research Center says that nearly 8 in 10 Americans say they don’t trust the federal government and have little faith it …. Source  : Poll: Americans’ confidence in the federal government at a 50-year low, 80 percent are wary.

Where is Shashi Tharoor?

NEW DELHI – Shashi Tharoor, the former minister of state for external affairs who quit over the Indian Premier League (IPL) row, was conspicuous by his absence in parliament Monday.
As parliament began at 11 a.m., mediapersons waiting for the former minister, who stepped down late Sunday, were disappointed when the MP from Thiruvananthapuram … Original article on : Where is Shashi Tharoor?.

JKLF chairman Yasin Malik detained

SRINAGAR – Muhammad Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was detained by the police while he was on his way to Kupwara in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district Monday, police said.
“Yasin Malik was detained at Mirgund (Pattan) along with some of his associates today (Monday),” a police officer said …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : JKLF chairman Yasin Malik detained.

UNHCR expresses concern as Australia expands detention centers to house asylum-seekers

UNHCR concern as Australia detains asylum-seekers

ADELAIDE, Australia – The U.N. refugee agency expressed concern Monday that Australia is using holding newly arrived asylum-seekers in detention centers.
The government suspended refugee applications from Afghans and Sri Lankans on April 9, saying the situations in those countries had improved.
The new policy says the suspensions will be reassessed in …. Read the original article  : UNHCR expresses concern as Australia expands detention centers to house asylum-seekers.

Wrong policies of government responsible for price rise: BJP

MUMBAI – Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari has said that the wrong economic policies of Central Government is responsible for the price rise.

“The basic problem which our country is facing, it is price rise, inflation, unemployment and farmers’ suicides. And, basically the reason for all these problems, …. Original source  : Wrong policies of government responsible for price rise: BJP.

Congress issues whip to Lok Sabha MPs

NEW DELHI – In a bid to ensure that the Finance Bill is passed without any hitch, the Congress has issued a whip to all its MPs to be present for seven days of the Lok Sabha proceedings starting April 20.

According to sources, Congress’ chief whip Paban Singh Ghatowar issued a three-line whip Friday.
The …. Original article  : Congress issues whip to Lok Sabha MPs.

EU-Pakistan summit postponed

BRUSSELS – A summit between the European Union (EU) and Pakistan to be held here April 21 has been postponed due to air traffic problems, the EU Presidency has announced.

Air traffic in a number of European countries has been suspended because of volcanic ash from Iceland.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who … Read this article on Gaea Times at : EU-Pakistan summit postponed.

Israel warns against Iran as it remembers fallen soldiers, victims of attacks

Israel remembers fallen soldiers, attack victims

JERUSALEM – State ceremonies across Israel will commemorate nearly 23,000 fallen soldiers and civilian victims of attacks.
President Shimon Peres has taken the occasion of Israel’s memorial day to warn the world not to underestimate the potential threat of Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel, like the West, doesn’t believe Tehran’s claims that its … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Israel warns against Iran as it remembers fallen soldiers, victims of attacks.

Carrie Underwood wins ACM Entertainer of the Year; Lady Antebellum top winner with 5 awards

Carrie Underwood wins ACM Entertainer of the Year

LAS VEGAS – Carrie Underwood made history at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night, becoming the first woman to win entertainer of the year twice.
Underwood won the show’s top honor last year. This year, she beat out Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown …. Source article  : Carrie Underwood wins ACM Entertainer of the Year; Lady Antebellum top winner with 5 awards.

Toyota to agree to full $16.4 million govt fine over sticking gas pedals

Toyota to agree to $16.4 million government fine

WASHINGTON – Toyota is expected to agree on Monday to pay a fine of more than $16 million for a four-month delay in telling the government about defective gas pedals on its vehicles, the largest civil penalty imposed on an automaker by the government, a Transportation Department official …. Read the original article  : here.

Armed Thai troops patrol Bangkok business district to block protesters from entering

Armed Thai troops patrol Bangkok business district

BANGKOK – Thai troops with assault rifles entered Bangkok’s business district Monday to deter a protest march and protect a key bank with razor wire barricades, while anti-government demonstrators stockpiled paving stones nearby in the tense capital.
A leader of the “Red Shirt” protesters, thousands of mostly rural demonstrators camped …. Source  : Armed Thai troops patrol Bangkok business district to block protesters from entering.

Gates says US is prepared to take range of actions in response to Iranian nuclear ambitions

Gates says US is prepared on Iran’s nuclear plan
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Robert Gates asserted Sunday that the U.S. is prepared to take a range of actions against the Iranian nuclear program and told friends and foes not to fall for any perception Iran can catch Washington off guard .
Gates said …. Read the original article  : here.