Uproar in Lok Sabha over Mamata’s Lalgarh rally

NEW DELHI – The Left parties in the Lok Sabha Monday asked the central government to clarify its stand on the Maoists after a “responsible party in the government and their ministers” decided to hold a rally in West Bengal’s Maoist-affected Lalgarh.

The Trinamool Congress, however, rejected the allegation, saying that the party and its leader, [..] Read the original article: here.

Andaman tribals not primitive: Jairam Ramesh

NEW DELHI – Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh Monday objected to calling the native tribals of Andaman and Nicobar “primitive tribes” even as their decreasing numbers continue to be a major concern.

“We must stop using the term primitive, use the term original inhabitants,” Ramesh said while replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha. … Read : Andaman tribals not primitive: Jairam Ramesh.

Illegal mining issue: Congress treads into Reddy’s Bellary turf

BELLARY – The Congress Party’s 320-kilometer ‘Bellary Chalo’ padayatra from Bangalore to press the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Karnataka to order a CBI inquiry into the illegal mining issue is set to enter the mining hub of Bellary on Monday.

Tight security arrangements have been made so that the rally goes off … Original article on : Illegal mining issue: Congress treads into Reddy’s Bellary turf.

‘Greedy’ Tony Blair wants 150 pounds for signed edition of memoirs

LONDON – Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has been accused of being evangelical and messianic, and now, greedy – he wants 150 pounds for signed edition of his memoirs said to look like a Bible.

Blair is expecting to gain maximum returns from the American markets for his signed, numbered limited edition of ‘A Journey’.

Pre-orders … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘Greedy’ Tony Blair wants 150 pounds for signed edition of memoirs.

Book by author threatened with jail says Chinese premier’s reform rhetoric just an act

Book says Chinese premier is no reformist
HONG KONG – A book by a Chinese dissident author who says he was threatened with imprisonment argues China’s premier is not a reformist nor a man of the people, as popularly perceived at home, but a mediocre technocrat who rose to power through good acting.
Excerpts …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Book by author threatened with jail says Chinese premier’s reform rhetoric just an act.

Rwandans start voting in presidential election, incumbent expected to handily win

Rwandans vote in presidential election
KIGALI, Rwanda – Rwandans are choosing a new leader in the central African republic’s second presidential vote since the 1994 genocide.

Incumbent candidate Paul Kagame is widely expected to win Monday’s vote as his economic and social development record has earned him many supporters in this landlocked country.
Voters began heading to polling …. Original source  : Rwandans start voting in presidential election, incumbent expected to handily win.

Shiv Sena walks out of Rajya Sabha over Babhali barrage

NEW DELHI – The question hour in the Rajya Sabha witnessed much disturbance Monday as Shiv Sena members staged a walkout when their demand for discussing the Babhali barrage row was not taken up.

As the house met for question hour, the Shiv Sena members led by Manohar Joshi were on their feet, demanding that the …. Original article  : Shiv Sena walks out of Rajya Sabha over Babhali barrage.

Letitia Long to become first woman in charge of a major US intelligence agency

First woman to head major US intelligence agency

WASHINGTON – The United States has had three female secretaries of state – but until now has never had a woman lead one of its 16 major intelligence agencies.
Letitia A. Long is being elevated Monday to director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in a ceremony at the agency’s …. Source article  : Letitia Long to become first woman in charge of a major US intelligence agency.

Pak flood disaster has spiralled beyond govt’s capacity: Gilani

SUKKUR – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has admitted that the unprecedented devastation caused by the country’s worst ever floods has spiralled beyond the government’s control.

“The government has done everything possible, but it is beyond our capacity, we are facing an extremely difficult situation,” The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

“Millions of …. Original source  : Pak flood disaster has spiralled beyond govt’s capacity: Gilani.

House members return to vote on jobs bill for teachers and government workers

House members scurry back to pass jobs bill

WASHINGTON – House members are giving up a couple of days reconnecting with folks in their districts this week to pass a jobs bill that Democrats say is crucial to the nation’s well-being.
The unusual in-and-out session was called because the Senate waited until last Thursday, after the House …. Source  : House members return to vote on jobs bill for teachers and government workers.

Turkey’s government, military reach agreement on filling top armed forces posts

Turkish government, military reach deal on posts

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s government and military have reached a deal on appointing the two top military positions – an agreement that highlights growing civilian authority over a military that once shaped politics in the EU candidate country.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had refused last week to approve the …. Read the original article  : Turkey’s government, military reach agreement on filling top armed forces posts.

Sonia attends Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI – Congress president Sonia Gandhi attended the Lok Sabha Monday for the first time since the monsoon session started last month.

Parliamentarians, particularly from her party, greeted Gandhi, who reached the house before the proceedings began. She sat near leader of the house and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the front row of …. Original article  : Sonia attends Lok Sabha.

Uproar in Lok Sabha over Mamata’s rally in Lalgarh

NEW DELHI – There was an uproar in Lok Sabha Monday over Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s “apolitical” rally in West Bengal’s Maoist stronghold of Lalgarh. Pro-Maoist tribal groups are expected to attend the rally.

Left party MPs tried to raise the issue at the beginning of question hour, but Trinamool Congress MPs protested vociferously.
Parliamentary …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Uproar in Lok Sabha over Mamata’s rally in Lalgarh.

Freed Israeli photographer to return home after 5 months’ imprisonment in Libya

Israeli held in Libya returning home after release

JERUSALEM – An Israeli arrested and imprisoned in Libya last March while photographing Jewish sites will return to Israel on Monday after being freed in a complicated deal engineered by Israel’s foreign minister, officials said.
Rafael Rafram Haddad, an Israeli-Tunisian dual national, was in Libya on behalf of an … Read more : Freed Israeli photographer to return home after 5 months’ imprisonment in Libya.

Hong Kong transgender woman challenges marriage ban in court; city’s first such case

Hong Kong transgender woman fights marriage ban

HONG KONG – A Hong Kong court began reviewing Monday a government decision to bar a transgender woman from marrying her male partner in the first such case to be heard in the city’s legal system, the woman’s lawyer said.
The woman, a local resident in her 20s who can … Original article on : Hong Kong transgender woman challenges marriage ban in court; city’s first such case.

Cameron going bald

LONDON – British Prime Minister David Cameron seems to be actually losing hair over the massive budget deficit as a bald patch on his pate is unmistakable.

Daily Express Monday reported that the bald patch near the 43-year-old’s crown in an otherwise lustrous head of hair can be clearly seen.
He is not the only one …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mamata Banerjee to hold rally in Lalgarh today

KOLKATA – Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee will hold a public rally in Lalgarh against the Left Government misrule in West Bengal today.

The rally will be organised under non-political forum ‘Santras Virodhi Manch’ and will be attended by socialites Swami Agnivesh and Medha Patkar.

Banerjee has called the rally following the anger … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mamata Banerjee to hold rally in Lalgarh today.

Keep Bihar electoral officer away from poll duty: opposition

PATNA – Bihar’s opposition leaders met Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, who is on a two-day visit, and demanded that the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh and other officials be kept away in the upcoming assembly polls, an official said Monday.

Apart from Rakesh, the parties wanted that block development officers (BDO), circle officers … Original source on Gaea Times at : Keep Bihar electoral officer away from poll duty: opposition.

Nagasaki marks 65th anniversary of US atomic bomb, no American representative at ceremony

Nagasaki marks 65th anniversary of US atomic bomb

TOKYO – The Japanese city of Nagasaki marked the 65th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bomb attack on Monday with a record 32 countries attending – but no American representative.
A moment of silence was observed at 11:02 a.m., the time when the United States dropped an atomic bomb … Read more »»».

Spanish monarchs welcome Michelle Obama

Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Aug 9 (IANS/EFE) Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, accompanied by Princess of Asturias Letizia, welcomed US first lady Michelle Obama and her daughter Sasha to a private luncheon before they concluded their vacation in Spain.

The wife and younger daughter of US President Barack Obama reached the Marivent Palace, the … Read more »»».