Funeral to be held for civil rights leader Benjamin L. Hooks who died in Memphis at age 85

Benjamin L. Hooks to be laid to rest in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After years of fighting for social justice, civil rights leader Benjamin L. Hooks will be laid to rest.
Political leaders and Hooks’ peers in the civil rights movement from across the country are expected to attend his funeral in Memphis on Wednesday.
The 85-year-old former … Original article on : Funeral to be held for civil rights leader Benjamin L. Hooks who died in Memphis at age 85.

Kerala to reply on governor’s address controversy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The Kerala government will soon reply to Governor R.S. Gavai’s letter on allegations by the opposition that his address to the assembly in February had not been approved by the cabinet, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said Wednesday.

Gavai had last week written to Chief Secretary Rudra Gangadharan seeking a clarification after a group …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

BSP refuses to share its stand on finance

NEW DELHI – The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Wednesday refused to divulge its stand on the finance bill that will come up during the ongoing session of parliament.

“We will decide later,” Satish Chandra Mishra, BSP general secretary and a close aide of party chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, told IANS when asked … Read more »».

Sri Lanka’s ruling party wins parliamentary elections

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s ruling alliance secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, according to official final results announced Wednesday after a re-vote in two districts.

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa secured 4.8 million of the votes, or 60.3 percent. The United National Party (UNP) received 2.3 million or … Read more »».

Manmohan Singh for urgent action to root out left-wing extremism

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday underscored the need for urgent and considered action to root out the left-wing extremism from the country.
Inaugurating the Civil Service Day here, Dr Singh said:
“terrorism and left-wing …. Original source  : Manmohan Singh for urgent action to root out left-wing extremism.

Court-martial of Navy SEAL accused in prisoner-abuse case opens in Iraq

Court-martial of Navy SEAL opens in Iraq
BAGHDAD – Opening arguments are under way in the court-martial of a Navy SEAL accused in the abuse of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding the killings of four U.S. private security contractors in 2004.

Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas appeared Wednesday in a courtroom at a U.S. base … Read more »».

British politician’s secret dossier found in cab

LONDON – A secret dossier on a TV debate strategy for Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, found in the back of a taxi, advises him to “speak more slowly” and use “shorter, simpler answers”.

The document shows that Clegg was coached to copy the style of Conservative Party leader David Cameron, The Sun reported Wednesday. … Original source on Gaea Times at : British politician’s secret dossier found in cab.

Obama has begun talks with potential Supreme Court nominees, confers with senators Wednesday

Obama now talking with possible high court picks
WASHINGTON – Pushing forward with one of his most consequential decisions, President Barack Obama has begun informal talks with potential nominees for the Supreme Court. And now he is reaching out to the senators who will control the confirmation fight ahead.
Obama was to meet Wednesday with …. Original article  : Obama has begun talks with potential Supreme Court nominees, confers with senators Wednesday.

Some District of Columbia residents willing to forgo voting rights to keep strict gun laws

Gun law dispute sinks voting rights bill for DC

WASHINGTON – For some residents of the nation’s capital, a bill to give them a voting member of Congress wasn’t worth the price: severely weakened gun laws.
“As much as I want the vote in the city, I think the gun ban is hugely important,” said Betsy Cutler, … Read : Some District of Columbia residents willing to forgo voting rights to keep strict gun laws.

Past 60, North Atlantic alliance gripped by angst over war, peace and purpose in the world

US and Europe rethink role of Cold War alliance
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is heading to a meeting of NATO ministers in Estonia at a time when the 61-year-old organization is suffering from a kind of mid-life crisis.
Almost 20 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 28-member North …. Read the original article  : Past 60, North Atlantic alliance gripped by angst over war, peace and purpose in the world.

BJP Rally In Delhi Today

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The residents of New Delhi are keeping their fingers crossed as BJP has planned a massive rally in Central Delhi today. It is likely to bring the traffic to a standstill and cause severe inconvenience to the residents and office goers in particular. BJP plans to gather at least 300,000 … Read more : BJP Rally In Delhi Today.

Police disallow separatist seminar in Srinagar

SRINAGAR – Police Wednesday sealed a hotel where Muslim separatist leaders were to attend a seminar that was also to be addressed by senior guerrilla commanders from Pakistan over a phone link.

Dozens of policemen descended on Taj Hotel to seal it ahead of Wednesday’s seminar on the role of Kashmiri separatist leaders.
Police detained human … Read more >>.

Tharoor tweets thanks at ‘time of trial’

NEW DELHI – “Thank you…”, tweeted Shashi Tharoor, who quit as minister of state for external affairs over alleged links to the Kochi IPL franchise, to all his supporters after his emotional speech in the Lok Sabha stating that his conscience was clear.

The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, who was forced to resign Sunday …. Source  : Tharoor tweets thanks at ‘time of trial’.

Rajya Sabha adjourned after member’s death

NEW DELHI – The Rajya Sabha was adjourned Wednesday following the death of its member Krishan Lal Valmiki of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
As soon as the house assembled, Chairman Hamid Ansari read out a condolence message in which he said: “The country has lost an able parliamentarian and dedicated social worker.”
The … Read more >>>.

BJP’s anti-price rise rally triggers traffic chaos

NEW DELHI – Traffic crawled across central Delhi Wednesday morning as thousands of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers gathered here for a massive rally against rising prices, the first show of strength for newly elected party president Nitin Gadkari.

BJP leaders claim that an estimated 300,000 people will gather at the Ramlila Maidan for the rally. …. Read the original article  : BJP’s anti-price rise rally triggers traffic chaos.

Sri Lanka’s ruling party increases gains after revote, falls short of two-thirds majority

Sri Lanka ruling party increases gains in revote

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling party increased its parliamentary gains Wednesday after new voting in Sri Lanka’s elections, but fell short of the two-thirds majority it had sought to make constitutional changes.
Rajapaksa’s United People’s Freedom Alliance secured a total of 144 seats in the 225-member …. Read the original article  : Sri Lanka’s ruling party increases gains after revote, falls short of two-thirds majority.

JMM legislators live in fear of Maoist retaliation

RANCHI – Their party chief and Chief Minister Shibu Soren is sometimes accused of having a soft corner for Maoists, but several Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislators expect the rebels to show them no mercy, now that Operation Green Hunt is on in Jharkhand.

The JMM legislators who come from Maoist areas are scared of retaliation …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : JMM legislators live in fear of Maoist retaliation.

ATTN EDITOR

Ref File name : 21nat6
Head Line : 1. (For Wednesday) Tharoor: New age politician who forgot old world values (Comment)

Kill the story. Fresh story follows
… Read this article on Gaea Times at : ATTN EDITOR.

Tharoor: New age politician who forgot old world values (Comment)

The youngest doctorate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, earning his PhD from the hallowed portals of Tufts University in the US at age 22, Shashi Tharoor is known to be an exceptional thinker. In his nearly three-decade-long stint at the United Nations, where he rose to be the under secretary general for … Read more : Tharoor: New age politician who forgot old world values (Comment).

PM to inaugurate Civil Service Day today

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate the fifth Civil Service Day here today.
Dr. Singh, on this occasion, will also give away the ‘PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration’ for the year 2008-09.
Nine outstanding initiatives in three categories – individual, group and organization – have been selected …. Source  : Gaea News Network.