Goa assembly adjourned twice over drug nexus probe

PANAJI – The Goa assembly was adjourned twice Tuesday after opposition members stormed the well of the House demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the police-politician-drug mafia nexus here.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who refused to accede to the opposition demand, also had to face embarrassing salvos from several ruling members who [..] Read the original article: here.

Colorado city’s proposed rules would bar public from shouting, disrobing at council meetings

Colo. city would bar disrobing at council meetings

BOULDER, Colo. – Civil rights advocates in Colorado are urging a city council to reconsider a set of proposed roles that would bar people from taking off their clothes, stomping their feet and shouting at council meetings.
Boulder’s so-called “rules of decorum” were inspired by an incident earlier this …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Cameron urges to end fixation over ’special relationship’ with US

LONDON – British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the “special relationship” between Britain and the United States is coming to an end.

In an article in the Wall Street Journal, Cameron urges everyone to stop taking the relationship’s pulse every second, and recognize that Britain and the US will search the globe for a …. Read the original article  : here.

Departing UN official calls Ban’s leadership ‘deplorable’

UNITED NATIONS – In a stinging rebuke of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, an outgoing official charged with combating corruption in the world body has accused him of having failed to maintain accountability, a media report said Tuesday.

Inga-Britt Ahlenius, a Swedish auditor who stepped down Friday as undersecretary general of the Office of Internal Oversight … Read : Departing UN official calls Ban’s leadership ‘deplorable’.

US defense chief Gates says he and Clinton will make unprecedented visit to Koreas’ DMZ

Gates, Clinton to visit DMZ dividing 2 Koreas
SEOUL, South Korea – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will make an unprecedented trip together to the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, meeting Wednesday with troops along one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders.
Gates made the announcement …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US defense chief Gates says he and Clinton will make unprecedented visit to Koreas’ DMZ.

Nepal political parties discuss new government formation

KATHMANDU – With just a day left for the election of a new Prime Minister in Nepal, political parties have intensified their internal and bilateral discussions on government formation.

The UCPN (Maoist) on Tuesday decided to wait for the CPN-UML decision concerning the leadership in the government.

Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel has said the party has been …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Agnivesh slams govt for Maoist Azad’s encounter

LUCKNOW – Claiming that Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram had authorised him to broker peace with maoists , well known spiritual cum social activist Swami Agnivesh on Monday flayed the government for gunning down

Maoist leader Cherukuri Raj Kumar alias Azad , in Andhra Pradesh on July 2 last
The 55 – year old top Maoist … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Agnivesh slams govt for Maoist Azad’s encounter.

Iran’s parliament adopts bill to retaliate against international inspection of its cargo

Iran’s parliament adopts bill against inspections

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s parliament has adopted a bill authorizing tit-for-tat retaliation against countries that inspect Iranian ships and aircraft as part of the latest set of U.N. sanctions slapped on Tehran.
Iran’s State radio broadcast the Tuesday parliament session live.
The bill follows last month’s U.N. Security Council resolution to impose … Read more >>>.

Naidu, colleagues sent to Aurangabad jail

NANDED/HYDERABAD – Amid high drama, protests by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and caning by the police, party chief Chandrababu Naidu and his supporters were Tuesday moved from Dharmabad in Maharashtra’s Nanded district to the Aurangabad Central Jail.

Naidu and his colleagues, who were remanded to judicial custody till July 26, will be lodged at … Read more »».

California judge to review discovery plan in lawsuits over alleged defects in Toyota vehicles

Calif. judge to review Toyota case discovery plan

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A federal judge in Southern California will review a plan to share information in the sprawling litigation involving alleged defects in some Toyota vehicles.
A hearing Tuesday before U.S. District Judge James Selna will focus on the first phase of discovery where attorneys for both … Original article on : California judge to review discovery plan in lawsuits over alleged defects in Toyota vehicles.

BP controversies stealing thunder from David Cameron’s trip to Washington

BP stealing thunder from Cameron’s US visit
WASHINGTON – On the way to Washington, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he wants to talk about Afghanistan, Middle East peace prospects and the global economy.
Everyone else wants to talk about BP.
Cameron’s first trip to Washington as prime minister begins Tuesday and is being overshadowed by …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : BP controversies stealing thunder from David Cameron’s trip to Washington.

Kagan faces first vote Tuesday on nomination to Supreme Court

Committee vote Tuesday on Kagan court nomination
WASHINGTON – Elena Kagan is facing the first vote on her nomination to the Supreme Court before a Senate panel dominated by Democrats who are all but certain to support her. The only real question is whether Kagan will get any Republican votes.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is … Read : Kagan faces first vote Tuesday on nomination to Supreme Court.

Bailiffs evict anti-war protesters from London’s Parliament Square

Bailiffs evict protesters from London’s square

LONDON – Bailiffs moved in early Tuesday to evict anti-war protesters from Parliament Square Gardens in central London.
Authorities moved to clear out the camp opposite the Houses of Parliament at 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The Court of Appeal earlier this month backed London Mayor Boris Johnson in his effort to clear the … Read : Bailiffs evict anti-war protesters from London’s Parliament Square.

Senate to question James Clapper on how he’d fix national intelligence as its director

Intelligence director nominee faces a grilling
WASHINGTON – Tough questions and blunt answers are likely Tuesday when retired Air Force Gen. James T. Clapper goes before the Senate Intelligence Committee seeking confirmation as the next director of national intelligence.
Clapper is expected to explain how he would streamline the massive flow of information …. Original article  : Senate to question James Clapper on how he’d fix national intelligence as its director.

Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich expected to follow brother Robert on witness stand

Blago expected to follow brother to witness stand
CHICAGO – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich may finally step into the witness box at his corruption trial.
The ousted governor is expected to testify Tuesday, though exactly when will depend partly on how quickly prosecutors finish cross-examining his brother, who also is charged.
For most of the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich expected to follow brother Robert on witness stand.

Karzai reaffirms goal to have Afghan security forces taking lead by 2014

Karzai reaffirms 2014 date for Afghan-led security
KABUL, Afghanistan – President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment for Afghan police and soldiers to take charge of security throughout the nation by 2014 and urged his international partners to spend their money on Afghan priorities not “quick-impact” projects.
Karzai spoke at an international …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Karzai reaffirms goal to have Afghan security forces taking lead by 2014.

Rabri Devi out of chief ministerial race this election

PATNA – She has been chief minister for eight years, but Rabri Devi may be out of the reckoning this time with the view that only her husband and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad or partner LJP’s Ram Vilas Paswan can counter Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the Bihar assembly polls.

In fact, Lalu Prasad himself has …. Source  : Rabri Devi out of chief ministerial race this election.

Naidu, colleagues being moved to Aurangabad jail

NANDED – Amid high drama, protests and caning by the police, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu and his colleagues were Tuesday moved from Dharmabad to the Aurangabad Central Jail, around 350 km from here.

Naidu and his supporters, who were remanded to judicial custody till July 26, shall be lodged in the Aurangabad Central … Read more »»».

Cameron refuses to meet US senators on BP-Lockerbie row

LONDON – British Prime Minister David Cameron has refused to meet American senators to formally discuss allegations that BP had lobbied for the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, and Bob Menendez had requested for a meeting with Cameron this week.

The senators have been calling for an … Read more : Cameron refuses to meet US senators on BP-Lockerbie row.

Kabul conference opens with Afghan leader urging more Afghan control of donor funds, security

Karzai calls for more control of funds, security
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s president urged international partners to help Afghanistan move toward responsibility for its own security and government programs, as an ambitious international conference in the Afghan capital opened Tuesday.
Delegates at the one-day conference are expected to adopt a plan that involves transferring security … Original article on : Kabul conference opens with Afghan leader urging more Afghan control of donor funds, security.