Thousands protest in Afghanistan, chant ‘Death to America’ over once-planned Quran burning

Thousands of Afghans in anti-Quran-burning protest

KABUL, Afghanistan – Thousands of people protested in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday against a small American church’s earlier plan to burn the Muslim holy book, chanting “Death to America” and setting shops and police checkpoints on fire, officials said.
Din Mohammad Darwish, spokesman for the governor of Logar province, said police … Read more »».

I’ve good chance of winning polls: Musharraf

LONDON – Former president Pervez Musharraf says he is forming a new political party and plans to return to Pakistan as he has “a good chance” of winning the next elections.
Musharraf, who now lives here, told BBC that he would be returning to his country before elections take place in 2013.
For [..] Read the original article: here.

EU foreign ministers discuss relationship with candidate member and strategic partner Turkey

EU ministers discuss relationship with Turkey

BRUSSELS – European Union foreign ministers met Saturday to discuss their vexed relationship with Turkey, a nation that is becoming a key player on the global stage even as talks to join the bloc languish.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the talks at a palace in Brussels aim to … Read more »»».

Senior US diplomat confident American base on Japanese island of Okinawa will stay

Senior US diplomat confident Japan base will stay

GENEVA – U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg says Washington would prefer to keep its military base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa despite local opposition.
Steinberg says he is confident the day-to-day political debate on moving the base won’t trump an overriding commitment in Japan to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Senior US diplomat confident American base on Japanese island of Okinawa will stay.

Thousands in Afghanistan protest, chant ‘Death to America’ over once-planned Quran burning

Thousands Afghans in anti-Quran-burning protest

KABUL, Afghanistan – Shops and police checkpoints have been set on fire during a protest in Afghanistan over a once-planned Quran burning in the United States.
Thousands were protesting and chanting “Death to America” Saturday in Logar province’s capital, Puli Alam.
Din Mohammad Darwish, spokesman for the provincial governor, said police fired warning …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Thousands in Afghanistan protest, chant ‘Death to America’ over once-planned Quran burning.

Rajnath Singh denies differences in BJP over Munda

RANCHI – Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh denied Saturday that the party was divided over making Arjun Munda the new chief minister of Jharkhand with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) help.
“There are no differences in the party over government formation in Jharkhand. All these are media creation,” Rajnath Singh said … Read more >>>.

Arjun Munda becomes Jharkhand chief minister again

RANCHI – Arjun Munda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday took oath as the eighth chief minister of Jharkhand at the head of a government that includes the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

Munda, who has been chief minister twice earlier, was a JMM legislator before he joined the BJP ahead of the 2000 assembly election. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Arjun Munda becomes Jharkhand chief minister again.

North Korea proposes restarting family reunions

SEOUL – South Korea is considering a North Korean proposal to restart reunions of divided families, a news report said Saturday.

An official from the unification ministry in Seoul confirmed that it had received the proposal from the North Korean Red Cross Society, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.
South Korea’s National Red Cross is considering …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : North Korea proposes restarting family reunions.

Gilani stresses “no plan” of military operation in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, has categorically stated that the federal government had no plan to launch a military operation in Balochistan.

“There is no such plan to launch a Swat or Malakand-like operation. That is wrong. It is for the provincial government in Balochistan to take decisions about their province,” the … Read : Gilani stresses “no plan” of military operation in Balochistan.

BJP’s Arjun Munda sworn in as Jharkhand CM for the third time

RANCHI/NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arjun Munda took oath as Jharkhand Chief Minister on Saturday for the third time, heading a BJP- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) – All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) coalition.

JMM chief Shibu Soren’s son Hemant Soren and AJSU leader Sudesh Mahato took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.

No chief minister …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : BJP’s Arjun Munda sworn in as Jharkhand CM for the third time.

Rudd foreign minister in Gillard’s new cabinet

SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minster Julia Gillard Saturday announced her new cabinet which includes former premier Kevin Rudd as foreign minister.

Gillard, who deposed Rudd in June, said her new ministry delivers on a promise to establish a portfolio dedicated to regional Australia, The Age reported.
The cabinet will include Simon Crean, previously responsible for education …. Original article  : Rudd foreign minister in Gillard’s new cabinet.

Arjun Munda sworn-in as Jharkhand chief minister

RANCHI – Arjun Munda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday took oath as the eighth chief minister of Jharkhand at the head of a coalition government with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha here.

Munda was administered the oath of office by Governor M.O.H. Farook at Raj Bhavan.
BJP national president Nitin Gadkari and senior leader L.K. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Arjun Munda sworn-in as Jharkhand chief minister.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Australia’s foreign minister

Ex-PM Rudd named Australia’s foreign minister

SYDNEY – Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was named Saturday as Australia’s new foreign minister, a high-profile and coveted posting that will be seen as a consolation prize for being ousted from the leadership.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who narrowly won elections last month just weeks after toppling Rudd in an …. Read the original article  : Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Australia’s foreign minister.

Former Oz PM Rudd appointed foreign affairs minister in Gillard’s new cabinet

CANBERRA – Former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has been appointed as the Foreign Affairs Minister in Julia Gillard’s new cabinet.

Rudd, who was Labor foreign affairs spokesman while in opposition, would take over from Stephen Smith who has held the portfolio since Labor won the 2007 election. Smith has been appointed as the Defense …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

BJP’s Arjun Munda to take oath as Jharkhand CM today

RANCHI/NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arjun Munda will be sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister on Saturday along with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren’s son Hemant Soren and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) leader Sudesh Mahato, who will take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.

42-year-old Munda will be the Chief Minister … Read more »».

North Korea proposes talks with South Korea to hold reunions of families separated by war

NKorea proposes family reunion talks with SKorea

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has offered South Korea a new round of reunions for families separated by the Korean War, state media said Saturday.
Reunions last happened in September and October 2009, and their potential renewal could signal an easing of tensions after the deadly sinking of a … Read more : North Korea proposes talks with South Korea to hold reunions of families separated by war.

El Salvador says Mexico not to blame in migrant massacre; Mexican leader lashes out at US

Mexico lashes out at US after migrant massacre

MEXICO CITY – President Mauricio Funes of El Salvador said Friday he doesn’t blame Mexico’s government for the massacre of 72 mainly Central American migrants, and called for a joint effort to fight drug cartels.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Funes said after their meeting that the two countries … Read : El Salvador says Mexico not to blame in migrant massacre; Mexican leader lashes out at US.

Former Australian premier Rudd to be foreign minister

SYDNEY – Former Australian premier Kevin Rudd was Saturday confirmed as the foreign affairs minister in Julia Gillard’s new cabinet, a media report said.

An official for Prime Minister Julia Gillard confirmed that Rudd would take over from Stephen Smith who has held the job since Labor won the 2007 election, The Australian reported.
Smith …. Source article  : Former Australian premier Rudd to be foreign minister.

O’Donnell endorsements by NRA, Demint, giving tea party favorite in Delaware a boost

NRA, DeMint nods cited for Delaware’s O’Donnell

DOVER, Del. – Christine O’Donnell has picked up key endorsements from the National Rifle Association and conservative Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina in Delaware’s Republican U.S. Senate primary.
The NRA said Friday that it can depend on O’Donnell to defend the right to bear arms. The group is …. Original source  : O’Donnell endorsements by NRA, Demint, giving tea party favorite in Delaware a boost.

AP Interview: Longtime Chicago mayor still passionate about job but won’t ‘bless’ a successor

Daley: Passion for being Chicago mayor remains
CHICAGO – It wasn’t his wife’s cancer. It wasn’t the tough economy that battered Chicago’s finances. It wasn’t the prospect of a re-election campaign amid falling poll numbers, or the city’s embarrassing loss of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
On Friday, Mayor Richard M. Daley insisted it was something …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : AP Interview: Longtime Chicago mayor still passionate about job but won’t ‘bless’ a successor.