Drug lords, bomb threats and more: young aspiring police officers train, compete at conference

Aspiring police officers train, compete at event

ATLANTA – Thousands of young aspiring law enforcement officials have been trained to become the nation’s next generation of police officers.
About 2,000 high school students competed in nerve-racking, mock crime scenarios at the Law Enforcement Explorers Conference in Atlanta earlier this month. The students could help fill the void … Read more >>.

In quiet South Carolina town, another skirmish in immigration battle as councilman seeks ban

Immigration skirmish brews in quiet SC town

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – In a small South Carolina town hundreds of miles from Arizona, another skirmish over illegal immigration is brewing.
Summerville Councilman Walter Bailey has proposed an ordinance requiring most employers to check the immigration status of workers. It would also require those who rent homes or apartments in …. Read the original article  : here.

Perfect voter roll new CEC Quraishi’s priority (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – S.Y. Quraishi Friday took over as India’s new chief election commissioner (CEC) and said achieving “a perfect electoral roll” and curbing money power during polls were his priorities.

After assuming office, Quraishi told reporters here that “the election commission would continuously strive to deliver free and fair elections wherever and whenever required”. …. Original source  : Perfect voter roll new CEC Quraishi’s priority (Second Lead).

Saudi and Syrian leaders to visit Beirut amid rising tension between rival Lebanese factions

Saudi, Syrian leaders head to Lebanon amid tension

BEIRUT – The leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia were heading to Beirut on Friday to help defuse a simmering crisis over expected indictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Many fear that new clashes between Lebanon’s Shiite and Sunni communities could break out [..] Read the original article: here.

Gogoi to undergo heart surgeries in Mumbai

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI – Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi left for Mumbai from New Delhi Friday for undergoing two emergency heart surgeries following blood vessel blockages detected by doctors.
According to Assam government sources, Gogoi is likely to be operated at the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai Wednesday if the pre-surgery tests are normal.
“Well … Original article on : Gogoi to undergo heart surgeries in Mumbai.

Republicans get wish: Congressman Rangel’s ethics case headed into fall campaign season

GOP gets wish: Rangel case in campaign season

WASHINGTON – Republicans wanted an election-season ethics case against Democratic powerhouse Rep. Charles Rangel of New York. And now, it looks like they have one.
A House ethics panel of four Democrats and four Republicans, who will determine Rangel’s guilt or innocence on 13 ethics charges, held its organizational … Read : Republicans get wish: Congressman Rangel’s ethics case headed into fall campaign season.

Palestinian rocket from Gaza hits Israeli city, causing damage but no injuries, military says

Rocket from Gaza hits Israeli city, no injuries

JERUSALEM – Gaza militants fired a rocket into the Israeli city of Ashkelon early Friday, the military said, a rare strike in a period of relative quiet.
The Israeli military said the rocket caused damage but no injuries. None of the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza immediately took responsibility …. Source  : Palestinian rocket from Gaza hits Israeli city, causing damage but no injuries, military says.

David Miliband calls Cameron a ‘loudmouth’ over Pakistan comments

LONDON – Former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has criticised Prime Minister David Cameron, accusing him of being a “loudmouth” over his remarks about Pakistan’s record on terrorism.

“Well, I think there is a big difference between straight-talking and being a loudmouth,” The Daily Times quoted Miliband, as saying.

“Everyone has two ears and one mouth … Read more : David Miliband calls Cameron a ‘loudmouth’ over Pakistan comments.

Gilani says Cameron’s remarks against Pak can affect war on terror

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the issue of hostile statements made by British Prime Minister David Cameron would be taken up at a diplomatic level, and warned that such statements could adversely affect the war against terrorism.

“Such statements could affect the war against terrorism,” The Dawn quoted Gilani, as …. Read the original article  : here.

Fears of FBI snooping on e-mail and Web use plunge Obama administration into privacy dispute

FBI access to e-mail and Web records raises fears

WASHINGTON – A new controversy surrounding the FBI’s surveillance tactics is one for the Internet age.
The bureau wants to clarify federal law to ensure its agents can gather information about a person’s e-mail traffic and Web surfing practices without having to go to court where a judge … Read more >>>.

Rising prices wash away first week of monsoon session (Third Lead)

NEW DELHI – Opposition parties continued to force the adjournment of both houses of parliament Friday, marking the end of the first week of the monsoon session that has been washed away with no real business conducted due to demands for a discussion on rising prices as an adjournment motion that entails voting.
The … Read more >>>.

Andhra Pradesh Congress chief loses by-election

HYDERABAD – The ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh Friday suffered a major setback with its state unit chief D. Srinivas losing the assembly by-election.

In a repeat of the 2009 result, Srinivas was defeated by BJP’s A. Lakshminarayana by a margin of 12,200 votes in Nizamabad Urban constituency.
The result has come as a big … Original article on : Andhra Pradesh Congress chief loses by-election.

Spiralling prices again stall parliament, both houses adjourned (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – Opposition demands for a discussion on the spiralling food prices under an adjournment motion that entails voting stalled parliament for the fourth successive day Friday, forcing two adjournments of both houses, the second one for the day.
With the government saying it was prepared for a discussion on the price rise … Read : Spiralling prices again stall parliament, both houses adjourned (Second Lead).

Chelsea’s not the only game in Rhinebeck: Holstein contest, Rocky Horror Show, antique planes

In Rhinebeck with Chelsea: Rocky Horror, cows
RHINEBECK, N.Y. – If some of Chelsea Clinton’s wedding guests want to make a weekend of it in Rhinebeck, there’s a stage production of “The Rocky Horror Show” on the boards Saturday night and Sunday.
They won’t even have to pack extra clothes.
“We encourage people to …. Original source  : Chelsea’s not the only game in Rhinebeck: Holstein contest, Rocky Horror Show, antique planes.

TRS wins five seats, leading in six

HYDERABAD – Riding on the Telangana sentiment, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) swept the assembly by-elections in the region, winning five seats and leading in six other constituencies Friday. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ahead in the remaining one seat.

Proving that the Telangana sentiment is still strong, TRS retained Siddipet, Sirpur, Dharmapuri and Chennur seats with …. Source  : TRS wins five seats, leading in six.

S.Y. Quraishi takes charge as CEC

NEW DELHI – S.Y. Quraishi Friday took over as India’s new chief election commissioner (CEC), becoming the first Muslim to occupy the post, and said achieving “a perfect electoral roll” was his priority.

After assuming office, Quraishi said that “enhancing voters’ participation and restricting the role of money power in elections are among the emerging challenges” … Original source on Gaea Times at : S.Y. Quraishi takes charge as CEC.

US expresses concern about Myanmar-North Korea ties as isolated regimes hold secret talks

US ‘carefully watching’ Myanmar-NKorea talks

YANGON, Myanmar – The U.S. said it is carefully watching the budding secretive relationship between Myanmar and North Korea for signs of nuclear cooperation, as official talks between the authoritarian regimes entered a second day Friday.
North Korea’s Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun’s four-day visit to Myanmar is shrouded in secrecy. Myanmar …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US expresses concern about Myanmar-North Korea ties as isolated regimes hold secret talks.

Zardari ‘cancels’ UK visit after Cameron’s hostile remarks

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has postponed his visit to the United Kingdom following British Prime Minister David Cameron’s hostile remarks against Pakistan.
Zardari will now be going on a three-day visit to France, starting from August 1.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit however said that the programme of the President’s visit … Read : Zardari ‘cancels’ UK visit after Cameron’s hostile remarks.

Logjam over prices continues, both houses adjourned

NEW DELHI – The logjam in parliament over rising prices continued for the fourth day Friday with a united opposition adamantly protesting and demanding a discussion followed by voting on the issue, which forced the adjournment of both houses till noon.
As the Lok Sabha assembled at 11 a.m., angry opposition members led by [..] Read the original article: here.

TRS leader Harish Rao wins by record margin

HYDERABAD – Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader T. Harish Rao Friday set a record in Andhra Pradesh’s electoral politics by retaining his Siddipet assembly seat in the by-elections by a margin of over 95,000 votes.

He was elected with a margin of 95,858 votes, breaking the record of late former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who … Read more >>.