Four years after ouster, Nepal’s deposed king having last laugh

KATHMANDU – Four years after he was forced to end his army-propped regime and endure the start of a retributive process to abolish monarchy, Nepal’s deposed king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah may have had the last laugh with the peace process in tatters and political parties facing the same public wrath he had.

On April 24, …. Original source  : Four years after ouster, Nepal’s deposed king having last laugh.

In Arab-America capital, ancient hookah tradition threatened by Michigan smoking ban

Mich. hookah fanciers fume about smoking ban

DEARBORN, Mich. – The main thoroughfares of this Detroit suburb, like those of many Michigan cities, aren’t as busy as they used to be.
Thousands of jobs shed locally by the Ford Motor Co. have forced smaller businesses to shutter and left fewer customers for those that remain. Yet there … Read more : In Arab-America capital, ancient hookah tradition threatened by Michigan smoking ban.

Candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat says closure of family bank will not halt campaign

Candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat undaunted
CHICAGO – Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias appears undaunted by the shuttering of his family’s bank, saying his bid to keep President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat in Democratic hands will move forward with renewed purpose.
Regulators shut down Broadway Bank on Friday when it became clear that …. Original source  : Candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat says closure of family bank will not halt campaign.

CPI-M asks government to own up phone tapping

NEW DELHI – The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday asked the government to admit tapping the telephones of four top political leaders and sought action against those who ordered the alleged surveillance.

“The government must own up responsibility in the matter and take action against those who ordered the surveillance. Protecting the covert activities of … Original article on : CPI-M asks government to own up phone tapping.

BJP flays Congress over alleged phone tapping

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday accused the Congress of going back to the “Emergency” days after a report alleged that telephones of four top political leaders had been tapped.

“This is completely undemocratic. Nothing justifies it. It indicates the Congress is getting back to Emergency days mindset,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told … Read this article on Gaea Times at : BJP flays Congress over alleged phone tapping.

Guarded optimism emerges in Thai crisis after protesters ease deadline for PM resignation

Guarded hope rises for peaceful end to Thai crisis

BANGKOK – Guarded hope rose Saturday that Thailand’s political deadlock, punctuated by increasing hostility and bloody street violence, could be settled peacefully after protesters softened their demand for an immediate change in government.
But one protest leader said he was unhappy with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s apparent brush-off …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Guarded optimism emerges in Thai crisis after protesters ease deadline for PM resignation.

‘Hostile’ Musharraf never wanted Bhutto to return to Pak in 2007 for elections

LAHORE – Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf had a confrontation with slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto over the telephone days before she returned to the country in 2007, Bhutto’s close friend and adviser Mark Siegel has disclosed.
According to Siegel, Musharraf had called Bhutto when she was in the United States to …. Read the original article  : ‘Hostile’ Musharraf never wanted Bhutto to return to Pak in 2007 for elections.

Sarah Palin praises organic food and granola at GOP fundraiser in liberal-leaning Oregon town

Palin raises money for GOP in liberal Oregon town

EUGENE, Ore. – Sarah Palin praised Republicans at a fundraising dinner in a liberal-leaning Oregon town for having the boldness to invite her to speak.
The former governor of Alaska and vice presidential candidate was the headliner in Eugene Friday night for the Lane County Republican Party’s Lincoln …. Source article  : Sarah Palin praises organic food and granola at GOP fundraiser in liberal-leaning Oregon town.

Voting under way in violence-hit Bangladesh constituency

DHAKA – Voting was under way Saturday morning in Bhola-3, a parliamentary constituency in southern Bangladesh that had witnessed pre-poll violence.

Polling began at 8 a.m. in Lalmohan and Tajumuddin towns in the constituency amid tight security, reported Star Online, the website of The Daily Star.
Violence continued on the eve of the polls … Original source on Gaea Times at : Voting under way in violence-hit Bangladesh constituency.

Obama adviser Axelrod says president and pastry chef had to ’separate’ over pie binge

White House adviser spills secret: Obama loves pie
BURBANK, Calif. – Presidents have had their indulgences – Ronald Reagan loved jellybeans and Bill Clinton binged at McDonald’s. What’s President Barack Obama’s weak spot?
Pie.
Obama’s senior adviser, David Axelrod, told Jay Leno Friday that the president was forced to “separate” from the … Read more >>.

Navy says it will name next amphibious ship after late Pa. Rep. John Murtha, a former Marine

Navy to name next ship after late Rep. John Murtha

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Navy is naming its next amphibious ship after the late western Pennsylvania congressman John Murtha.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus made the announcement Friday at the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport. Murtha’s family and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were in attendance.
Murtha, a former Marine, represented the [..] Read the original article: here.

Feds close bank owned by family of Ill. treasurer, candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat

Feds shuts down bank owned by Giannoulias
CHICAGO – Regulators shut down the bank owned by Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias’ family on Friday, setting up an expected but daunting challenge in his bid to keep President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat in Democratic hands.
Broadway Bank, which was heavy into real estate loans …. Source article  : Feds close bank owned by family of Ill. treasurer, candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat.

Feds close bank owned by family of Ill. treasurer, candidate for Obama’s old Senate seat

FDIC shuts down bank owned by Giannoulias family
CHICAGO – Federal regulators have shut down the bank owned by the family of Alexi Giannoulias (jeh-NOO’-lee-ehs), the Democrat running for President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. made the announcement on its website after the close of business Friday.
Broadway Bank was heavy … Read more : Feds close bank owned by family of Ill. treasurer, candidate for Obama’s old Senate seat.

Key provisions of Arizona immigration legislation signed into law by governor

Key provisions of Arizona immigration legislation

Key provisions of Arizona’s immigration legislation, signed into law by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday:
- Makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally by specifically requiring immigrants to have proof of their immigration status. Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months …. Source  : Key provisions of Arizona immigration legislation signed into law by governor.

Mideast negotiations difficult, not impossible: US envoy

RAMALLAH – US envoy for the Middle East Senator George Mitchell Friday said Palestinian-Israeli negotiations are facing many difficulties, but stressed that he is determined to continue efforts for peace.

Mitchell’s surprise arrival in the region, aimed at getting proximity talks going again, began in Israel and ended with his arrival in Ramallah for talks with …. Read the original article  : Mideast negotiations difficult, not impossible: US envoy.

NATO agrees to hand control to Afghans later this year; Clinton warns of rocky road ahead

Allies aim to start handover of power to Afghans

TALLINN, Estonia – Fearful of losing public support for the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. and NATO on Friday agreed to start transferring control of the country back to its leaders by year’s end but acknowledged that achieving stability will take decades.
If successful, the transition plan approved … Read more : NATO agrees to hand control to Afghans later this year; Clinton warns of rocky road ahead.

Press briefing on the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship by Senior Administration Officals

PRESS BRIEFING ON THE
PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BY BEN RHODES, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS; PRADEEP RAMAMURTHY, NSC SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT; FRANCISCO SANCHEZ, UNDERSECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE; JUDITH MCHALE, UNDERSECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Via Teleconference
2:08 P.M. EDT
MR. RHODES:  Thanks, everybody, for joining the call.  … Read more >>>.

German shepherd awarded with dog bowl for leading Alaska trooper to blaze at owners’ workshop

Alaska dog honored for leading troopers to fire

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Buddy the German shepherd is being hailed as a hero for guiding Alaska State Troopers through winding back roads to a fire at his owners’ workshop.
The dog on Friday received a stainless steel dog bowl engraved with words of appreciation from troopers for his “diligence …. Source article  : German shepherd awarded with dog bowl for leading Alaska trooper to blaze at owners’ workshop.

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Three American Hikers Detained in Iran

The United States remains deeply concerned by the case of three American hikers, Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal, and Sarah Shourd, who have been detained in Iran without charge or access to legal representation since July 2009. While we welcome the decision by the Iranian authorities to allow Shane, Sarah and Josh to receive another Swiss …. Original article  : Statement by the Press Secretary on the Three American Hikers Detained in Iran.

Census mail response hits 72 percent, but states in South and West lag in high-stakes count

Census returns hit 72 percent, match rate in 2000

WASHINGTON – It’s down to the wire: With a few days left before final mail-in results are tallied, nearly three-fourths of U.S. households have returned their census form.
But many fast-growing states in the South and West still lag in participation. Results from the decennial head count are …. Source article  : Census mail response hits 72 percent, but states in South and West lag in high-stakes count.