Cracks in Andhra Congress widen as Jagan steps up attack

HYDERABAD – The war within Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Congress is turning bitter by the day with MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, directly targeting Chief Minister K. Rosaiah.

The young MP wondered why Rosaiah was afraid of losing his chair because of his ‘odarpu yatra’. After making indirect attacks on … Original article on : Cracks in Andhra Congress widen as Jagan steps up attack.

‘Shocked’ Obama phoned Rudd before Gillard as she took charge as Oz PM

CANBERRA – The news of Julia Gillard taking over from Rudd as the Prime Minister of Australia shocked US President Barack Obama to such an extent that he called the latter first before congratulating Gillard for her success.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, US officials … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Shocked’ Obama phoned Rudd before Gillard as she took charge as Oz PM.

3 Northern Ireland police officers wounded by shotgun blast in Belfast riots

3 Northern Ireland officers hit by shotgun blast

LONDON – Police in Northern Ireland say three officers have been wounded by a shotgun blast during overnight riots in Belfast and two dozen other officers have sustained other injuries.
The riots broke out as sectarian tensions rose with the approach of Monday’s celebrations by Protestants of a 17th … Read : 3 Northern Ireland police officers wounded by shotgun blast in Belfast riots.

‘Alliance between Israel and US is not faltering’

WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his meeting in Washington with President Obama should lay ‘to rest’ the idea that the decades-old alliance between their two countries has frayed.

Netanyahu described his visit as positive and productive, and said that Obama had expressed a sincere understanding of the challenges facing his country as he …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Alliance between Israel and US is not faltering’.

Uttar Pradesh minister injured in blast

ALLAHBAD – An Uttar Pradesh minister was critically injured in a blast outside his residence in Allahabad district Monday, police said. Nand Gopal Nandi, the minister for institutional finance, has been admitted to the Jivan Jyoti Hospital here.

“The bomb was placed inside a vehicle which was parked outside his residence in Muthi Ganj,” a police …. Source article  : Uttar Pradesh minister injured in blast.

Roundtable of Malaysian Indian parties mooted

KUALA LUMPUR – Responding to the unity call of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, a Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leader has mooted a roundtable conference of Indian political parties and groups.

A. Ananthan, a delegate to the party’s just-concluded 63rd annual conference, proposed that the party chief S. Samy Vellu take the initiative in this regard. … Read more »»».

Kashmir crisis: Congress leaders urge Mufti, Mehbooba to take part in all-party meeting

LUDHIANA – Senior Congress party leader Digvijay Singh and party spokesman Manish Tewari have appealed to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kashmir not to boycott today’s all-party meeting in Srinagar, which has been called to discuss and determine a solution to end weeks of violent protests.

The appeal came as PDP …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Kashmir crisis: Congress leaders urge Mufti, Mehbooba to take part in all-party meeting.

Ethnic Indians seek monarch’s help in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Alleging discrimination, a group of 20 ethnic Indians in Malaysia have approached the country’s royal constitutional head for more scholarships and loans to help deserving students pursue higher studies.

Activists of the Human Rights Party (HRP) turned up Sunday outside Istana Negara, the royal palace here, to hand over a memorandum … Read more »».

Britain plans to stop incapacity benefits

LONDON – The British government proposes to stop incapacity benefits, worth billions of pounds annually, to people who claim they cannot work due to causes like obesity, depression and mood disorders.

According to figures from the Office of National Statistics and the National Health Services, nearly 2.5 million people are currently on incapacity benefits. This costs …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Britain plans to stop incapacity benefits.

‘Obama has achieved more than anyone in a generation’

WASHINGTON – With the November midterm election looming, top aides are claiming that President Barack Obama has achieved more in two years in advancing a solid progressive agenda than anyone else in a generation.
“My admonition would be: Don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good,” Obama senior adviser David Axelrod told CNN …. Original source  : ‘Obama has achieved more than anyone in a generation’.

Nepal heads for fresh prime ministerial polls

KATHMANDU – The turbulent republic of Nepal headed towards fresh prime ministerial elections Monday, the third in two years, as its disgraced parties failed to lay aside differences over power-sharing.

Since the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on June 30, the country has been under the rule of a caretaker government with the three …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Unbridled illegal mining makes Yeddyurappa fret and sob (Letter from Bangalore)

BANGALORE – Rampant illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka is turning out to be the albatross of the state’s first Bharatiya Janata Party government, though the unauthorized extraction and export of the mineral has been on for over a decade.

The opposition and media’s constant jibe over the alleged involvement in the illegal mining of the … Read more >>.

All party meeting on Kashmir Monday

SRINAGAR – An all-party meet convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will be held here Monday to discuss the law and order situation in the state.
While the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stood its ground on not attending the meeting despite a request from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the …. Read the original article  : here.

China orders officials to report changes in marital status, whereabouts of spouses and kids

Chinese officials must report personal assets

BEIJING – China issued new rules requiring officials in government and state companies to report personal details from assets to the business activities of spouses and children, in a renewed attempt to quash endemic corruption Beijing sees as a threat to its rule.
The new regulations that went into effect Sunday … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : China orders officials to report changes in marital status, whereabouts of spouses and kids.

Colombia military: 13 soldiers killed in minefields in pursuit of rebels

13 soldiers killed in Colombian minefields

BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombia’s military says 13 soldiers have been killed after entering two minefields in the northeastern province of Arauca.
Gen. Javier Fernandez says the 10 soldiers killed on Sunday were pursuing rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who were trying to blow up electrical towers. Fernandez is … Original article on : Colombia military: 13 soldiers killed in minefields in pursuit of rebels.

FEC filing shows Sarah Palin contributed at least $87,500 to candidates in recent months

FEC filing shows Palin gave $87,500 to candidates
JUNEAU, Alaska – Sarah Palin’s political action committee contributed at least $87,500 to candidates she’s endorsed in the last few months, according to a report filed Sunday with the Federal Elections Commission.
But SarahPAC’s financial disclosure also shows Palin spending more than $210,000 on consulting.
Candidates receiving money … Original article on : FEC filing shows Sarah Palin contributed at least $87,500 to candidates in recent months.

Iran judge says woman not to be stoned ‘for the time being’

Iran halts stoning of woman ‘for time being’

TEHRAN, Iran – The controversial death sentence by stoning for an Iranian woman convicted of adultery will not be implemented for now, said a judicial official on Sunday.
The world outcry over the death sentence has become the latest issue in Iran’s fraught relationship with the international community.
Malek Ajdar … Original source on Gaea Times at : Iran judge says woman not to be stoned ‘for the time being’.

Israeli foreign minister proposes ceding areas where Israeli Arabs live to Palestinians

Israeli FM to Palestinians: Take Israel’s Arabs
JERUSALEM – Israel’s foreign minister says a peace deal with the Palestinians should include handing areas where Israel’s Arabs live over to Palestinian control.
Avigdor Lieberman said a peace accord should be based on “population exchanges, not land for peace.”
The Palestinians claim the West Bank, Gaza Strip and … Original article on : Israeli foreign minister proposes ceding areas where Israeli Arabs live to Palestinians.

Leaders should not cross line of decency: Pranab

KOLKATA – Taking a dig at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari’s reference to parliament attack convict Afzal Guru as the “son-in-law” of the Congress, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday said political leaders should not cross the line of decency while making statements.
“While making statements political leaders should keep in mind that …. Source article  : Leaders should not cross line of decency: Pranab.

White House spokesman says Democrats could lose House to the GOP without strong campaigns

Obama spokesman says Democrats could lose House
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s party could lose its House majority in this fall’s elections, his spokesman said Sunday, perhaps trying to jolt Democratic voters with the specter of GOP lawmakers rolling back White House policies.
“I think there’s no … Original source on Gaea Times at : White House spokesman says Democrats could lose House to the GOP without strong campaigns.