Yeddyurappa backs Reddy brothers, wants Lok Ayukta probe

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to have decided to defend the Reddy brothers of Karnataka, who are under attack over allegations of illegal mining, with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa stating here Sunday that the “Reddy brothers were not responsible for illegal mining”.

Yeddyurappa’s statement came after his meeting here with senior BJP … Original article on : Yeddyurappa backs Reddy brothers, wants Lok Ayukta probe.

Clinton starts Asia tour aimed at refining goals of prolonged war in Afghanistan

Clinton aims to refine goals of Afghan war

ISLAMABAD – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton started a South Asia tour on Sunday aimed at refining the goals of the nearly 9-year-old war in Afghanistan and pushing neighboring nations to work together in the fight against al-Qaida and Taliban extremists.
Clinton landed in Islamabad where she … Read more : Clinton starts Asia tour aimed at refining goals of prolonged war in Afghanistan.

Krishna, Qureshi meet a ‘positive step’, tweets Rehman Malik

NEW DELHI – The India-Pakistan foreign minister talks should be seen as a “positive step” and not be “judged mathematically like 2+2=4″, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has tweeted in a refreshing take on the dialogue that soured after some harsh comments by the Pakistani foreign minister.
Malik, a regular user of Twitter with … Original article on : Krishna, Qureshi meet a ‘positive step’, tweets Rehman Malik.

Never said Krishna received instructions from Delhi: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has denied having said that his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna was getting directions from New Delhi during the talks the two leaders held here earlier this week.

“I had never said that Indian external (affairs) minister repeatedly went out during the meeting to receive instructions from Delhi,” Qureshi …. Original source  : Never said Krishna received instructions from Delhi: Qureshi.

Clinton travels to Pakistan to press for greater cooperation in Afghanistan war

Clinton in Pakistan on key mission
ISLAMABAD – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton started a South Asia tour on Sunday aimed at refining the goals of the nearly 9-year-old war in Afghanistan and pushing neighboring nations to work together in the fight against al-Qaida and Taliban extremists.

Clinton landed in Islamabad where she will underscore … Read more >>>.

To restore ’secularism’ or not in constitution, debates Dhaka

DHAKA – Should the term “secularism” be restored to the Bangladesh constitution? This question has led to a political debate in the Islamic republic, with the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) describing it as an “evil design”.
Political parties are also contemplating whether to bring back the term ’socialism’ into the constitution.
Prime …. Original article  : To restore ’secularism’ or not in constitution, debates Dhaka.

Reddy brothers meet Yeddyurappa, BJP leaders in Delhi

NEW DELHI – The Reddy brothers of Karnataka, under attack over allegations of illegal mining, held talks here Sunday with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leaders in the wake of demands by the governor and opposition parties for their resignation.

Ministers Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy met Yeddyurappa and BJP central …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Reddy brothers meet Yeddyurappa, BJP leaders in Delhi.

Illegal mining issue: Reddy brothers meet Swaraj, Yeddyurappa

NEW DELHI – Amidst allegations of illegal mining, Karnataka Ministers G Janardhan Reddy and G Karuanakar Reddy met senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa here on Sunday.
The meeting between the Reddy brothers and the Chief Minister at the Karnataka Bhawan here came a day …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Illegal mining issue: Reddy brothers meet Swaraj, Yeddyurappa.

Yeddyurappa slams Opposition on illegal mining issue

NEW DELHI – Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has slammed Congress Party and Janata Dal (Secular) for attacking his ministers, Janardhana and Karunakara Reddy, without any substantial proof in the controversial illegal mining row
Addressing the media after his meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Yeddyurappa slams Opposition on illegal mining issue.

Venezuela exhumes Simon Bolivar’s remains

Caracas, July 18 (IANS/EFE) A multidisciplinary team of some 50 forensic scientists analysed the remains of the Liberator Simon Bolivar in Caracas, an undertaking that Venezuelan Interior Minister Tarek El Aissami described as “important” on the state channel Venezolana de Television.

“This is a day of rejoicing amid the bicentennial of our independence,” the minister said, …. Original source  : Venezuela exhumes Simon Bolivar’s remains.

McCain spars with Republican rivals over immigration, spending in second debate

McCain takes on Republican rivals in second debate

TUCSON, Ariz. – Sen. John McCain has squared off in a sometimes testy debate with a former Arizona congressman hoping to take his job.
J.D. Hayworth portrayed McCain Saturday night as a flip-flopper on illegal immigration, while McCain painted his rival as a faux conservative who is lax with … Read this article on Gaea Times at : McCain spars with Republican rivals over immigration, spending in second debate.

Rand Paul: Congress shouldn’t micromanage Afghan war, leave troop numbers up to White House

Paul defends Obama’s right to make Afghan calls
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A constant critic of President Barack Obama, Republican Rand Paul on Saturday defended the president’s right to make decisions on the war in Afghanistan without interference from Congress.
Without mentioning Obama by name, the U.S. Senate candidate said Congress shouldn’t micromanage the war in … Read more >>.

Chilean senators barred from entering Venezuela

Caracas (Venezuela), July 18 (IANS/EFE) Chilean senators who were planning to observe Venezuela’s general elections in September will not be allowed to enter the country, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said.

The institutions of Venezuela “have nothing to do with the Chilean people nor with the government of Chile,” Chavez said, and asked: “But what are …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

In Uzbekistan, haunting tales of mass sterilization drive to curb population growth

Uzbek women accuse state of mass sterilizations

GULISTAN, Uzbekistan – Saodat Rakhimbayeva says she wishes she had died with her newborn baby.
The 24-year-old housewife had a cesarean section in March and gave birth to Ibrohim, a premature boy who died three days later.
Then came a further devastating blow: She learned that the surgeon had removed part …. Source  : In Uzbekistan, haunting tales of mass sterilization drive to curb population growth.

Palestine rejects US call to start direct talks

RAMALLAH – Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas rejected a call by US special envoy George Mitchell to hold direct negotiations with Israel, Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan said.
During the three-hour meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Mitchell “did not give Israeli responses to the Palestinian questions regarding borders and security”, the Fatah Central … Read more : Palestine rejects US call to start direct talks.

FEC tells Biden’s 2008 campaign to pay $219,000 for poor bookkeeping, excessive contributions

Biden’s 2008 campaign told: Pay $219K to Treasury

WASHINGTON – Election watchdogs have directed Joe Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign to pay the U.S Treasury more than $219,000 to resolve issues caused by sloppy bookkeeping and accepting excessive contributions, including a discounted flight on a private jet.
The audit was released Friday by the Federal Election Commission.
It determined …. Read the original article  : FEC tells Biden’s 2008 campaign to pay $219,000 for poor bookkeeping, excessive contributions.

Officer challenging Arizona immigration law asks judge to merge his case with feds’ lawsuit

Officer wants Ariz. lawsuit merged with feds’ case

PHOENIX – The lawyer for a Phoenix police officer who is challenging Arizona’s new immigration law in court has asked a federal judge to merge his lawsuit with a challenge filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The officer’s attorney, Stephen Montoya, tells U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton in …. Source article  : Officer challenging Arizona immigration law asks judge to merge his case with feds’ lawsuit.

FEC fines Biden’s 2008 campaign $219,000 for violations, including excessive contributions

Biden’s 2008 campaign fined $219K for violations

WASHINGTON – Election watchdogs have fined Joe Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign more than $219,000 for sloppy bookkeeping and accepting excessive contributions, including a discounted flight on a private jet.
The audit was released Friday by the Federal Election Commission.
It determined that the Biden campaign accepted an illegal corporate contribution in …. Original article  : FEC fines Biden’s 2008 campaign $219,000 for violations, including excessive contributions.

Iroquois lacrosse team’s passport position goes beyond sport, touches on deeper debate

Iroquois passport dispute raises sovereignty issue

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – An American Indian lacrosse team’s refusal to travel on passports not issued by the Iroquois confederacy goes to the heart of one of the most sensitive issues in Indian Country – sovereignty.
The rights of Native nations to govern themselves independently has long been recognized by federal treaties, …. Source article  : Iroquois lacrosse team’s passport position goes beyond sport, touches on deeper debate.

Blagojevich trial raises big question: How did this guy ever win 2 terms as Illinois governor?

Trial mystery: How did Blagojevich get elected?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Anyone who knows Rod Blagojevich from his reality TV appearances or his corruption trial might ask, “How did this guy get elected governor of Illinois?”
The answer is a mix of luck, skill, blind partisanship, scandal fatigue and the power of money.
Today, the Chicago Democrat is infamous … Read : Blagojevich trial raises big question: How did this guy ever win 2 terms as Illinois governor?.