PM rebukes Jairam Ramesh over home ministry remarks

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday spoke to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and asked him not to comment on the functioning of other ministries, a reference to the minister’s critical remarks in Beijing against the home ministry.
Manmohan Singh conveyed his displeasure to Ramesh and told him to avoid commenting on [..] Read the original article: here.

UAE, Portugal sign diplomatic representation pact

Abu Dhabi, May 10 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Portugal have signed an agreement on diplomatic representation.

Abdul Rahim Yousef Al Awadhi, assistant to UAE foreign minister for legal affairs, and Miguel de Serpa Soares, director of legal affairs in Portugal foreign ministry, signed the Implementation Protocol of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : UAE, Portugal sign diplomatic representation pact.

US diplomat meets Aung San Suu Kyi on 2nd visit before Myanmar elections

US envoy meets with Aung San Suu Kyi
YANGON, Myanmar – A top U.S. official met Myanmar’s detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday after expressing concerns about the legitimacy of the military-run country’s upcoming elections.
Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, started off his two-day visit by saying Washington … Original source on Gaea Times at : US diplomat meets Aung San Suu Kyi on 2nd visit before Myanmar elections.

Philippines extends voting period as eight die in violence

MANILA – Philippines’ election officials Monday extended voting by one hour after technical glitches delayed balloting in general elections, which was also marred by violence that killed eight people.

Most polling centres opened on time, but problems arose immediately with the new automated ballot-counting system that transmitted results electronically to central servers.
Frustration mounted as the …. Read the original article  : here.

White House tries to start fresh with Afghan leader as it contemplates exit from unpopular war

After snubs, the red carpet’s now out for Karzai
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has tried sidelining, snubbing and strong-arming Hamid Karzai, with little to show for each approach. Now the administration is trying to hold its tongue and show a little love.
The Afghan leader, darling of the previous Republican administration of President George … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : White House tries to start fresh with Afghan leader as it contemplates exit from unpopular war.

Done with pro sports, some ex-athletes look to political office

Ex-sports pros in races for political office

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. – Ex-NBA player Chris Dudley once battled the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson. Now he’s in a different kind of contest.
The 45-year-old Republican wants to become Oregon’s next governor. He’s raised more money than any other gubernatorial candidate and is showing well in the … Read more >>.

Oil rebounds to above $77 in Asia as euro, stocks gain on $1 trillion Europe bailout package

Oil rebounds to above $77 on European loan package

SINGAPORE – Oil prices rebounded to above $77 a barrel Monday in Asia from last week’s 14 percent sell-off after Europe and the IMF pledged nearly $1 trillion to help defend the embattled euro.
Benchmark crude for June delivery was up $2.41 to $77.52 a barrel at late …. Read the original article  : Oil rebounds to above $77 in Asia as euro, stocks gain on $1 trillion Europe bailout package.

Obama Nominates Elena Kagan as Supreme Court Justice

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com) — Elena Kagan is President Obama’s nominee for the United States Supreme Court. Kagan, the first female solicitor general now would become the third woman on the Supreme Court of The United States and the fourth in history. Obama has picked Kagan to replace the retiring justice John Paul Stevens.
Elena Kagan, 50 …. Source article  : Obama Nominates Elena Kagan as Supreme Court Justice.

Farmers say even recession didn’t bring Americans back to farm work, immigration reform needed

Farmers: Immigration reform needed for ag workers

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Many farmers say that without immigration reform, they’ll be facing a labor shortage.
Farmers say most Americans shy away from jobs such as cutting cabbage because the work is seasonal, physically tough, out in the elements and often in remote areas.
They want the federal government to make … Original article on : Farmers say even recession didn’t bring Americans back to farm work, immigration reform needed.

Congress workers protest against Maoist attack on CRPF personnel

ALLAHABAD – Supporters and activists of the Congress party staged a mass protest against the recent landmine attacks on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur District.

Protesting Congressmen raised anti- Maoist slogans and also burnt an effigy of Chhattisgarh State Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday.

“The weak internal security and intelligence in …. Read the original article  : Congress workers protest against Maoist attack on CRPF personnel.

Nepal Maoists say talks only after PM resigns

KATHMANDU – The Unified CPN (Maoist) has decided that it will only sit for talks with the government and ruling parties after Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigns.

Responding to a letter written by Nepal to the UCPN (Maoist), inviting them for talks, the party said talks … Original source on Gaea Times at : Nepal Maoists say talks only after PM resigns.

Chouhan wants Congress MLAs to attend special assembly session

BHOPAL – Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to direct her party legislators to participate in the special session of the assembly that aims to seek suggestions for inclusive development in the state.
In a letter to Gandhi, the chief minister said that the objective of [..] Read the original article: here.

Britain waits for new government as politicians sweat it out

LONDON – Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who holds the key to who would be the next resident of 10 Downing Street, seems to be inching towards a deal with the Conservatives but increased pressure on the Tories by having a meeting with Labour leader and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats will …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Britain waits for new government as politicians sweat it out.

Alagiri’s Maldives trip had PMO’s approval

NEW DELHI – His “perpetual” absence from parliament may have pushed the government on the backfoot, but DMK leader and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M.K. Alagiri’s Maldives holiday during the budget session had approval from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Replying to an RTI application, the ministry said Alagiri had sought permission from the PMO April … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Alagiri’s Maldives trip had PMO’s approval.

Aquino seen as favorite as Filipinos vote amid fear of fraud, glitch in 1st automated polls

Filipinos vote amid violence, computer glitches

MANILA, Philippines – Millions of Filipinos seeking a clean start after a decade of corruption-tainted politics voted in Monday’s elections despite scattered violence and glitches with vote-counting machines being used for the first time.
Sen. Benigno Aquino III – whose father was assassinated while opposing a dictatorship and whose late mother …. Original article  : Aquino seen as favorite as Filipinos vote amid fear of fraud, glitch in 1st automated polls.

Congress, MIM, TDP win seat each in legislative council

HYDERABAD – Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Congress, its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Monday won a seat each in the 90-member legislative council.

Congress and MIM candidates were elected in the state capital while TDP bagged the lone seat in neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. The result of …. Read the original article  : Congress, MIM, TDP win seat each in legislative council.

Civil secretariat reopens in Srinagar after six months

SRINAGAR – Jammu and Kashmir’s civil secretariat, including the offices of the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats, reopened here Monday after a six-month sojourn in the winter capital Jammu.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was given a guard of honour as he reached the civil secretariat at around 9.30 a.m. A smartly turned out …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Civil secretariat reopens in Srinagar after six months.

Rahul Gandhi on one-day Kerala visit

KOZHIKODE – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi arrived here Monday for a daylong trip to meet Youth Congress representatives in three Kerala districts, party officials said.

Gandhi, who arrived by an Air India flight at 9.40 a.m., is visiting Kasargod, the northernmost district of the state, hilly Wayanad and southern Kollam.
The Congress leader, who … Read more »»».

David Cameron met Queen dressed as rabbit

LONDON – David Cameron, the Conservative leader in the race to become the next prime minister of Britain, met the Queen dressed as a rabbit – in a school play staged 35 years back.

Cameron, then eight, participated in a production of “Toad Of Toad Hall” at Heatherdown School in Ascot, Berkshire, in 1975. He …. Original source  : David Cameron met Queen dressed as rabbit.

Silvio Berlusconi ‘agrees to divorce’ second wife

LONDON – Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has reportedly agreed on a divorce settlement with his second wife/actress Veronica Lario.

According to reports, Lairo will receive “considerably less” than the 3.5 million Euros a month, she had demanded as maintenance.

Instead, Berlusconi, 73, has offered her up to 300,000 euros a month.

Also, she is likely to … Read : Silvio Berlusconi ‘agrees to divorce’ second wife.