Anger in Nepal as PM poll likely to fail again

KATHMANDU – Amidst growing anger at the failure of Nepal’s major parties to elect a new prime minister even after four rounds of vote, nearly two dozen other parties have threatened to boycott parliament and start a protest movement if Monday’s election also fails.

The run-off seems doomed for failure yet again with the communists declaring … Read more »»».

Street posters of Egyptian president’s son cement campaign for political succession

In new posters, Egypt’s son for president?

CAIRO – Posters have sprouted up around Egypt promoting the son of President Hosni Mubarak as the country’s next leader, in the most overt campaign yet for a controversial father-son succession in this key U.S. Arab ally.
For the last decade, it has been believed that Gamal Mubarak is being … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Street posters of Egyptian president’s son cement campaign for political succession.

Chairman Mao’s Long March hits a high note in Nepal

KATHMANDU – Almost eight decades after he led the famous Long March of the Red Army, an incredible year-long odyssey overcoming starvation, sickness and decimating ambushes, late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong has hit a high note in Nepal, courtesy the Maoists who drew their inspiration from him.

In September 1935, about a month before Mao’s First … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chairman Mao’s Long March hits a high note in Nepal.

BJP wants to shed communal image, eyes Christian votes in Goa

PANAJI – In a bid to shed its communal image and boost its minority vote base, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders will interact with Christian religious leaders, including the archbishop of Goa, the party announced Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, BJP national secretary and in charge of Goa Arti Mehra, said: “The party feels there …. Original article  : BJP wants to shed communal image, eyes Christian votes in Goa.

Orissa Chief Minister to meet PM to discuss Vedanta, Posco projects

NEW DELHI – Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Monday regarding the NC Saxena Committee report on Vedanta mining and Posco steel plant projects.

He will also discuss the Polavaram (Indira Sagar) issue.

The state government has been opposing the Polavaram project over … Read more »»».

Bangladesh opposition protests move to bring back Zia’s son

DHAKA – Leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a nationwide demonstration Sunday against the government’s move to bring back their leader Khaleda Zia’s son from Thailand where he is undergoing treatment after his parole in 2008. He was arrested for alleged corruption.

Arafat Rahman Koko’s parole, granted in 2008, was cancelled last Friday …. Source  : Bangladesh opposition protests move to bring back Zia’s son.

Gillard’s Labor leads race for minority government

SYDNEY – Counting of votes closed Sunday leaving Australia’s ruling Labor Party with a slight edge over the opposition coalition as the country headed towards a hung parliament after seven decades with the small parties emerging as king makers.

Neither side seemed close to getting the 76 seats required to form government on its own, but …. Source  : Gillard’s Labor leads race for minority government.

Mideast direct talks ‘only way’ to peace: UN

NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Saturday endorsed next month’s planned resumption of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

A spokesman at UN headquarters in New York said that Ban believes that negotiations “are the only way for the parties to resolve all final status issues”.
US Secretary of State Hillary …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

President greets nation on Onam

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil Sunday sent greetings of “prosperity and happiness” to the nation on the occasion of Onam – Kerala’s harvest festival.

“On the joyous occasion of Onam, I offer my heartiest greetings to all my fellow citizens and especially to the people of Kerala and wish them all prosperity and happiness. May …. Source  : President greets nation on Onam.

Blair’s autobiography ‘more like a love letter to Bush’

LONDON – Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s has lavished praise on ex-US President George W. Bush in his much-hyped autobiography, according to insiders who have seen drafts of the book.

In the book, the former Labour Prime Minister calls Bush ‘highly intelligent’ and a ‘visionary’ friend.

“It is …. Read the original article  : Blair’s autobiography ‘more like a love letter to Bush’.

Shashi Tharoor Marriage Held

PALAKKAD, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The ancestral home of former minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor played host to his much-anticipated wedding with Sunanda Pushkar on Sunday morning. The former minister tied the knot in a traditional Malayali wedding ceremony which was held with much elan at Elavanchery village near Palakkad in the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Shashi Tharoor Marriage Held.

Australian prime minister negotiates with independent lawmakers to hang on to power

Australian PM asks independents to save government

CANBERRA, Australia – Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she started negotiating with independent lawmakers Sunday in a bid to cling to power because no major party won a majority of parliamentary seats in Australia’s general elections.
Gillard said she hoped to enlist support for her center-left Labor Party and has …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Tharoor-Pushkar finally get married in Kerala

PALAKKAD – After months of media speculation, Shashi Tharoor, former minister of state for external affairs, and Sunanda Pushkar tied the knot at his ancestral home near here Sunday morning in what was said to be a typical Kerala Hindu traditional wedding.

Tharoor, a Congress MP, tied the ‘thali’ around Pushkar’s neck, exchanged garlands and handed …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tharoor-Pushkar finally get married in Kerala.

Tharoor-Pushkar tie knot in Kerala

PALAKKAD – MP Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar tied the knot at his ancestral home near here Sunday morning in a typical Kerala Hindu tradition.

Performing rituals as per the tradition of Nair family, Tharoor tied the ‘thali’ around Pushkar’s neck, exchanged garlands and handed her ‘podava’ or a new set of clothes around 8.30 a.m.
…. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tharoor-Pushkar tie knot in Kerala.

Venezuela’s Chavez suspends his Sunday radio and TV show during legislative election campaign

Chavez suspends radio-TV program during campaign

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is taking his Sunday TV and radio program off the air until October during campaigning for legislative elections.
The Information Ministry says “Hello, President” will not appear this weekend to make room for televised coverage of a voting drill by electoral officials and the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Venezuela’s Chavez suspends his Sunday radio and TV show during legislative election campaign.

Egypt to hold Arab economic summit

CAIRO – Egypt will hold the second Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit in January next year, Xinhua reported Saturday.

Hisham Youssef, chief of cabinet for Arab League Secretary General, said preparations for Jan 19 summit have begun.
The first Arab economic summit was held in January 2009 in Kuwait.
The summit pledged to link … Original source on Gaea Times at : Egypt to hold Arab economic summit.

Rahul Gandhi visits agitating farmers, assures help

ALIGARH – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday assured farmers demanding higher compensation for their land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh that he will raise their concerns at appropriate forums.

Gandhi took the Mayawati government by surprise when he reached Tappal village in Aligarh district, the epicentre of peasants’ protest, Saturday evening. …. Source article  : Rahul Gandhi visits agitating farmers, assures help.

Handling of report on n-bill to be probed: Official

NEW DELHI – Rajya Sabha Secretary General V.K. Agnihotri said Saturday that he was looking into “mishandling” of parliamentary panel’s report on the civil nuclear liability bill with a view to improve the system.

“We will look into it with a view to improve the system,” Agnihotri told IANS.
The standing committee on science and technology, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Handling of report on n-bill to be probed: Official.

First-time voter elected Australian MP

SYDNEY – The first time Australia’s Wyatt Roy was mature enough to vote in a parliamentary election, the 20-year-old had his name on the ballot paper.

He won and is now the Liberal National Party member of parliament for the seat of Longman, a 1,239-square-km spread in Queensland.
“I don’t think I was ever perceived as …. Source  : First-time voter elected Australian MP.

Novice GOP candidate for Senate in Conn. hammers established Democrat again on honesty

GOP candidate in Conn. hammers Democrat on honesty

HARTFORD, Conn. – Richard Blumenthal’s words are haunting him again. Already forced to apologize for saying he had served “in” Vietnam in the Marine Reserve rather than stateside, the state attorney general’s campaign for U.S. Senate is now being challenged to explain his assertion that he had “never … Read more : Novice GOP candidate for Senate in Conn. hammers established Democrat again on honesty.