Thai government extends state of emergency in 18 provinces and capital, lifts in 5

Thailand extends state of emergency
BANGKOK – The Thai government on Tuesday extended for three months a state of emergency in the capital and 18 provinces in the wake of bloody, anti-government demonstrations that pushed the country close to chaos. But the special law was lifted in five provinces.

The Cabinet agreed that there remained “situations that …. Original source  : Thai government extends state of emergency in 18 provinces and capital, lifts in 5.

More Indian Americans contesting polls this year

WASHINGTON – With the rise of ‘desi power’, as people of Indian origin call themselves, a record number of Indian Americans are running for public office this year.
In addition to Nikki ‘Randhawa’ Haley, who brushed aside allegations of marital infidelity and an ethnic slur to become the Republican nominee for governor in South …. Read the original article  : More Indian Americans contesting polls this year.

Thai government extends state of emergency

BANGKOK – The Thai government extended its state of emergency in Bangkok and 18 other provinces Tuesday for three months on the recommendation of military officials.

It decided to end the state of emergency in five provinces – Si Sa Ket, Nan, Kalasin, Nakhon Pathom and Nakhon Sawan – saying security conditions there had improved, while …. Read the original article  : here.

Sri Lanka opposition protests constitutional changes

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s main opposition party staged a protest Tuesday against proposed constitutional reforms that would enable the president to stand for a third term.

United National Party legislators carried placards and chanted slogans at parliament.
“President Mahinda Rajapaksa is trying to remain in power forever,” party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said.
Rajapaksa’s United People’s … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Sri Lanka opposition protests constitutional changes.

Cabinet reshuffle likely this month

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to reshuffle his cabinet before the monsoon session of parliament later this month, informed sources said Tuesday, a day after Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar asked that his ministerial burden be reduced.
The top government source, however, refused to say what kind of changes Manmohan Singh … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Cabinet reshuffle likely this month.

Protesters force UN workers to stay in office in Sri Lanka, demand probe of wartime abuses end

Sri Lankans protest at UN office over abuse probe

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Protesters at the U.N. building in the Sri Lankan capital forced U.N. workers to stay in their office Tuesday to demand the world body end its investigation of rights abuses alleged during the country’s civil war.
Hundreds of national flag-waving men marched to the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Protesters force UN workers to stay in office in Sri Lanka, demand probe of wartime abuses end.

Dark reasons for India’s exit from Nepal passport deal?

KATHMANDU – Less than three months after Nepal’s coalition government cancelled a contract with India to print Nepali passports – a deal which would have allayed India’s growing security concerns – there are indications of dark motives behind the termination.

India’s state-owned Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd’s contract to print four million machine-readable …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mock twitter account targets Medvedev

LONDON – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is being targeted by a mock twitter account lampooning him.

Just days after Medvedev sent his first microblog from twitter’s offices in California last month, an account called ‘KremlinRussia’ appeared – and swiftly drew more than 1,000 followers, The Telegraph reported.
By Monday, it featured 130 tweets, most of …. Original article  : Mock twitter account targets Medvedev.

India an important partner: Chinese premier

BEIJING – Premier Wen Jiabao has said that China regards India as an important strategic partner and the two countries would “take care of each other’s core interests and major concerns”.
“We will work with India to maintain high-level visits and take care of each other’s core interests and major concerns,” Wen said Monday …. Read the original article  : here.

Rights group: Israeli settlements control more than 42 percent of the West Bank

Israeli settlements cover 42 percent of West Bank

JERUSALEM – Jewish settlements control more than 42 percent of the West Bank, and much of that land was seized from Palestinian landowners in defiance of an Israeli Supreme Court ban, an Israeli human rights group said Tuesday.
The group’s findings echo what other anti-settlement activists have claimed in …. Original source  : Rights group: Israeli settlements control more than 42 percent of the West Bank.

Obama, Netanyahu to focus on getting Israelis, Palestinians to begin direct peace talks

Obama, Netanyahu to focus on peace talks
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu head into a White House meeting with the same goal: restarting face-to-face peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Netanyahu on Sunday endorsed the U.S. call for direct talks between the two parties. That was just days …. Original source  : Obama, Netanyahu to focus on getting Israelis, Palestinians to begin direct peace talks.

Once a quiet, withdrawn teen, Alvin Greene emerges from obscurity to take on powerful senator

Once a withdrawn teen, man now takes on senator

MANNING, S.C. – Alvin Greene was a quiet, withdrawn high school student who rarely took chances or put himself in uncomfortable situations. Now, the 32-year-old unemployed military veteran is running against one of South Carolina’s most powerful senators.
Little information has emerged about Greene, who came from obscurity … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Once a quiet, withdrawn teen, Alvin Greene emerges from obscurity to take on powerful senator.

Wisconsin senator among Dems in unexpectedly close races as GOP spreads Senate playing field

Feingold faces unexpectedly tough race
WASHINGTON – Add Russ Feingold to the list of Senate Democrats who find themselves in unexpectedly tough races, the latest evidence of the GOP’s success in widening the playing field that President Barack Obama’s party has to defend.
The Wisconsin Democrat faces a wealthy political newcomer with early backing from … Read more »».

Protesters try to storm UN office in Sri Lanka, upset over probe of alleged wartime abuses

Sri Lankans try to storm UN office for abuse probe

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Protesters at the U.N. building in the Sri Lankan capital forced U.N. workers to stay in their office Tuesday to demand the world body end its investigation of rights abuses alleged during the country’s civil war.
Hundreds of national flag-waving men marched to … Read more »»».

Several Tibetans on way to celebrate Dalai Lama’s birthday detained in Nepal’s capital

Tibetan exiles detained by police in Nepal

KATMANDU, Nepal – Dozens of Tibetan exiles on their way to take part in a celebration for the Dalai Lama’s birthday were detained by police on Tuesday in the Nepalese capital.
Police stopped vehicles to check for the exiles, and an Associated Press reporter saw at least 22 Tibetans detained …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Shiv Sena lauds opposition unity during shutdown

MUMBAI – The Shiv Sena Tuesday lauded the unity of opposition parties and the spontaneous public support that led to the success of the nationwide shutdown against the rise in fuel prices and said a similar spirit had been been seen during the post-Emergency days.
In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamna, …. Original article  : Shiv Sena lauds opposition unity during shutdown.

PoK PM bats for India, says Pak not ready to seek Kashmir resolution

ISLAMABAD – In an unexpected shift of strategy, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider has asked the Gilani government not to link the controversial Kashmir issue with the renewed deliberations with India.

Haider said that instead of linking the resolution of Kashmir issue with the ongoing negotiations with India, the government should first … Read more >>.

Mass. lt. governor feels ill after marching in 5 parades in heat, hospitalized in good spirits

Mass. lt. governor hospitalized, in good spirits
BOSTON – The lieutenant governor has been hospitalized after marching in several parades in 90-degree heat over the Independence Day weekend and becoming ill.
Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, who marched in five parades during a busy three-day holiday weekend, felt under the weather and decided to seek medical … Original article on : Mass. lt. governor feels ill after marching in 5 parades in heat, hospitalized in good spirits.

Power failure leaves British royal entourage in dark

TORONTO/WASHINGTON – A two-hour power outage in Toronto Monday left Britain’s royal entourage in the dark, as Queen Elizabeth II was wrapping up her visit to Canada.

The electricity went out after an explosion at the Hydro One power station, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported, leaving parts of the city sweltering in 40 degree Celsius … Original article on : Power failure leaves British royal entourage in dark.

Clinton calls on Russia to meet its cease-fire commitments in former Soviet state of Georgia

Clinton criticizes Russia for occupying Georgia
TBILISI, Georgia – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton rebuked Russia on Monday for failing to live up to the cease-fire agreement it signed nearly two years ago to end the fighting in this small former Soviet state.
She asserted that Russia is occupying parts of Georgia and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.