US warship visits former foe Vietnam, China warns US to stay out of Yellow Sea

US Navy warship docks in former foe Vietnam

HANOI, Vietnam – A warship from the United States docked Tuesday in central Vietnam where the former foes planned to conduct navy training, in a sign of growing military ties amid new warnings from China for the U.S. to stay out of its backyard.
The USS John S. McCain’s … Original article on : US warship visits former foe Vietnam, China warns US to stay out of Yellow Sea.

Committed to combat LeT-Al Qaeda terror syndicate: US

NEW DELHI – The United States is “committed” to destroying and defeating all terror syndicates, including the “strong connectivity” that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Al Qaeda have built, visiting US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Michele Flournoy said Tuesday.
Flournoy, who arrived here Monday after a visit to Pakistan, said India and the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Committed to combat LeT-Al Qaeda terror syndicate: US.

BJP, Left attack Mamata over Lalgarh, seek PM’s clarification

NEW DELHI – The Lok Sabha Tuesday saw a united opposition attacking the government over Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech in Lalgarh asking for a probe into the “murder” of Maoist spokesperson Azad. It demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clarify the government’s position on tackling Maoists.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde … Read more : BJP, Left attack Mamata over Lalgarh, seek PM’s clarification.

BJP seeks PM’s statement on Mamata rally, walks out of Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha following an altercation with the treasury benches and seeking a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech in Maoist-hit Lalgarh.
During her speech in Lalgarh in West Bengal Monday, Banerjee had questioned the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : BJP seeks PM’s statement on Mamata rally, walks out of Rajya Sabha.

WHO says decision on whether to downgrade swine flu pandemic is likely Tuesday

WHO: Decision on swine flu pandemic likely Tuesday

GENEVA – The World Health Organization says it will likely decide Tuesday whether to declare the swine flu pandemic over.
Spokesman Gregory Hartl says an expert panel is discussing with WHO Director-General Margaret Chan whether to shift the global body’s pandemic alert from its current phase 6 level – … Read : WHO says decision on whether to downgrade swine flu pandemic is likely Tuesday.

Colorado GOP voters face a tough, and dispiriting, choice in gubernatorial primary

Colo. GOP voters face gubernatorial primary choice

DENVER – Colorado’s Republican voters face tough – some might say dispiriting – choices in Tuesday’s primary. Should they vote for an accused plagiarist, or an opponent whose grasp of public policy has been questioned several times?
Should they even wait to see if someone better comes along after the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Colorado GOP voters face a tough, and dispiriting, choice in gubernatorial primary.

Democratic Colorado senator Michael Bennet waits to hear if he’ll keep job in primary

Colo. senator waiting to hear if he’ll keep job
DENVER – Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet battled for his job Tuesday in a Colorado primary against Andrew Romanoff, a former state House speaker whose grass-roots campaign and embrace of the nation’s anti-establishment mood has him within striking distance of an upset.
Republicans in the state …. Read the original article  : here.

Democratic Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet waiting to hear if he’ll keep job in primary

Colo. senator waits to hear if he’ll keep job

DENVER – Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet is the latest incumbent senator battling for his job.
Bennet faces Andrew Romanoff, a former Colorado House speaker, in a primary challenge Tuesday marked by the anti-establishment mood seen in every corner of the nation.
Republicans have their own outsider-versus-insider Senate story line. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Democratic Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet waiting to hear if he’ll keep job in primary.

Mamata bashing unites opposition, BJP demands PM’s intervention (Afternoon Lead)

NEW DELHI – The Congress found itself cornered by a united opposition in parliament Tuesday over Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech in Lalgarh questioning the manner in which Maoist leader Azad had been killed and the BJP demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervene in the issue.
Both houses of parliament witnessed vociferous demands …. Read the original article  : Mamata bashing unites opposition, BJP demands PM’s intervention (Afternoon Lead).

PM should speak on Mamata’s Lalgarh speech: BJP

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clear the air over Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech at Lalgarh slamming the manner in which Maoist spokesperson Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad had been killed last month.
Both houses of parliament witnessed vociferous demands to take up the …. Read the original article  : PM should speak on Mamata’s Lalgarh speech: BJP.

In emergency session, House takes up $26 billion bill to help teachers, public workers

House moves to help teachers, public workers
WASHINGTON – House Democrats are convening an emergency session to pass a bill aimed at saving hundreds of thousands of teachers and other public workers from unemployment.
The one-day session Tuesday also may address another issue that will be on voters’ minds this November – lax border security …. Read the original article  : In emergency session, House takes up $26 billion bill to help teachers, public workers.

UN: Afghan civilians killed, injured rose 31 percent in first 6 months of the year

UN: Afghan citizens killed, injured rising sharply

KABUL, Afghanistan – The number of civilians killed or wounded in the Afghan conflict rose 31 percent in the first six months of the year, and anti-government forces caused about three-quarters of the casualties, the United Nations said in a report Tuesday.
“The human cost of this conflict is unfortunately … Read more >>>.

Rudd appointed to UN panel to tackle global sustainability issues

CANBERRA – Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been appointed to an unpaid part-time position on a “high-level” United Nations panel to tackle global sustainability issues.

“This appointment is entirely consistent with Rudd’s work as a member of Parliament should he be re-elected at the coming election,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted an UN spokesman, … Original article on : Rudd appointed to UN panel to tackle global sustainability issues.

Manmohan Singh to meet all-party delegation from Kashmir

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will meet an all-party delegation from Jammu and Kashmir led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss the current situation in the Valley.
The meeting will he held at the Prime Minister’s official 7-Race Course residence at 6 p.m. today
During the meeting, Dr. … Read more »».

‘Rise of India makes South Asia matter more to US’

WASHINGTON – The rise of India and the difficulties of Pakistan has made South Asia matter more in the reckoning of the United States even as “Europe means a little less” and American power has seen a “relative decline”, according to a former Bush era official.
Richard Armitage, former deputy secretary of state, said …. Source  : ‘Rise of India makes South Asia matter more to US’.

Mamata bashing unites BJP, Left in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI – The Lok Sabha Tuesday witnessed rare unity between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left parties with both attacking Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee over her rally in Lalgarh.
Addressing a rally at the Maoist stronghold of Lalgarh in West Bengal Monday, Banerjee condemned “the manner” in …. Read the original article  : Mamata bashing unites BJP, Left in Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha adjourned over Mamata rally

NEW DELHI – The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon Tuesday following heated words between the opposition and the treasury benches over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s demands for suspending question hour for a discussion on Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s rally at Lalgarh.
As soon as the house assembled at 11 a.m., Leader … Original article on : Rajya Sabha adjourned over Mamata rally.

High security in Chandigarh for farmers’ rally

CHANDIGARH – Elaborate security arrangements were made in Chandigarh and all 20 entry points from Punjab were sealed Tuesday in view of a farmers’ rally here, police said.

“We have made elaborate law and order and security arrangements. All the 20 outer-border nakas have been established under the supervision of senior police officials,” Chandigarh Senior Superintendent …. Original source  : High security in Chandigarh for farmers’ rally.

Japan apologizes for its colonial rule of Korea

TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized Tuesday to South Korea for his nation’s colonial rule of Korea ahead of the 100th anniversary of the annexation of the Korean peninsula later this month.

Kan expressed regret for the suffering inflicted during the
1910-45 colonial period, in a statement released five days before Koreans celebrate their … Read : Japan apologizes for its colonial rule of Korea.

CAPITAL CULTURE: For Team Obama, choosing the right setting in the mansion with a message

CAPITAL CULTURE: White House backdrop is fine art
WASHINGTON – When President Barack Obama addressed the nation from the Oval Office for the first time, Americans knew in an instant the Gulf oil spill had become a full-blown crisis.
His prime-time speech, in a setting that bespeaks the power of the presidency, telegraphed a vital …. Original source  : CAPITAL CULTURE: For Team Obama, choosing the right setting in the mansion with a message.