Omar taking leaf out of Nehru’s incompetence: BJP MP

PANAJI – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is repeating history by taking a leaf out of late prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s incompetence, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP said here Monday.

Anurag Thakur, an MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur constituency, said Abdullah was trying to hide his incompetence in governance by siding with … Read more >>.

India will not force n-deal on Japan: Manmohan (Second Lead)

TOKYO – India will not force the civil nuclear agreement on Japan as it recognises the sensitivities involved, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Monday, indicating that the nuclear deal that is being negotiated between the two countries could be a long haul.

“I recognise the sensitivity of the (nuclear) issue in Japan and therefore I … Read more >>>.

IT raids on Reddy brothers’ associates

BANGALORE – Income tax officials Monday raided the office of Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu, a confidant of the Reddy brothers, the residence of an advocate and the houses of a few Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators in Karnataka, officials said.

“We are conducting raids in Bangalore, Bellary and Hospet. It is a search operation,” … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : IT raids on Reddy brothers’ associates.

Rahul’s image result of media spin: BJP youth wing

PANAJI – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s image is a product of a media spin and he has absolutely no connect with the masses, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Anurag Thakur said here Monday.

Thakur, an MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur constituency, also said that the results of the ongoing elections in Bihar would … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Rahul’s image result of media spin: BJP youth wing.

Manmohan Singh’s visit to improve India-Malaysia ties: HC

KUALA LUMPUR – Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s scheduled visit to Malaysia would improve the bilateral relations between the two countries, Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Vijay Gokhale has said.

Dr. Singh will arrive in Kuala Lumpur on a three-day visit from Tuesday to reciprocate Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak’s visit to India in … Read : Manmohan Singh’s visit to improve India-Malaysia ties: HC.

Slovenian town elects their ‘Obama’ for mayor

LJUBLJANA – An African immigrant was being dubbed the “Slovenian Barack Obama” Monday, after winning a run-off election at the weekend for the post of mayor in the Adriatic resort of Piran.

Peter Bossman, 54, came to former Yugoslavia in 1977 to study medicine, expecting only to visit.
Instead he made Slovenia his home, married …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Slovenian town elects their ‘Obama’ for mayor.

India seeks Japan’s nuclear help, but would not force the issue: Manmohan Singh

TOKYO – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that India seeks Japan’s help for expansion of its nuclear energy potential, but would not force Tokyo on the issue as it recognises the sensitivity of the subject.

Dr. Singh, who is in Tokyo on a three-day visit, said that with the India’s rapid economic growth, the …. Source article  : India seeks Japan’s nuclear help, but would not force the issue: Manmohan Singh.

Manmohan visit gets big play in Japanese media

TOKYO – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s interview to the Japanese media ahead of his three-day visit to the country was extensively covered in the newspapers here Monday, meriting an anchor in The Daily Yomiuri and a front page mention in the International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun edition.

The Japan Times carried a small report on page … Read more »»».

Malaysia’s early poll talks overshadow Diwali celebrations

KUALA LUMPUR – Speculations about early parliamentary polls in Malaysia have overshadowed Diwali celebrations in the country, and leaders of the Indian diaspora have been urged to hit the campaign trail.

The talks have prompted calls for unity among the country’s 2.1 million ethnic Indians, whose vote is sought by a plethora of parties, …. Read the original article  : Malaysia’s early poll talks overshadow Diwali celebrations.

Punjab Congress wants Rahul to join 45-day march

CHANDIGARH – The Youth Congress in Punjab is set to undertake a 45-day march to raise issues like drug addiction, terrorism and female foeticide next month. And it wants party general secretary Rahul Gandhi to join them.

Called the Nav Inqalab Yatra, it will start from neighbouring Mohali town Nov 1 and culminate Dec 15 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Punjab Congress wants Rahul to join 45-day march.

MPs behaved like ‘zombies’ under ex-PM Rudd: Labor senator

CANBERRA – Australian Labor Party Senator Doug Cameron has claimed that lawmakers under leadership of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd behaved like “zombies”.

Describing that period as a time of ‘political lobotomy’, Cameron told radio station 2UE that Labor’s primary …. Source  : MPs behaved like ‘zombies’ under ex-PM Rudd: Labor senator.

Brisk voting in second phase of Kerala polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Seven districts of Kerala saw brisk and peaceful polling Monday in the second phase of elections to local bodies, officials said.

Voting began at 7 a.m. in Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Palakkad districts and more than 20 percent polling was recorded in the first three hours, according to the State …. Read the original article  : Brisk voting in second phase of Kerala polls.

Tony Blair’s sis-n-law declares ’she’s a Muslim’

LONDON – First former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair became a Roman Catholic after leaving office in 2007, and now his sister in law has converted to Islam.

Lauren Booth, Cherie Blair’s half sister, decided to adopt her new faith after what she described as a holy experience in Iran. … Read more >>.

French citizens dissatisfied with Sarkozy

Paris, Oct 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s retirement reform plan has led to a dramatic drop in his public approval rating, with around 70 percent of the people saying they were “dissatisfied” with his work.

An opinion poll conducted by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP) issued Sunday said 70 percent were … Read more : French citizens dissatisfied with Sarkozy.

Rains no dampener for efficient Japanese (Japan diary)

TOKYO – The famed Japanese efficiency was in evidence as soon as Air India One carrying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his entourage touched down in pouring rain Sunday evening. All passengers disembarking were quickly handed out umbrellas, swiftly opened so not a minute was wasted.

Two people waited just outside on the steps to …. Source  : Rains no dampener for efficient Japanese (Japan diary).

PM gets covered in Japanese press

TOKYO – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s interview to the Japanese media ahead of his three-day visit to the country was extensively covered in the newspapers here Monday, meriting an anchor in The Daily Yomiuri and a front page mention in the International Herald Tribue/Asahi Shimbun edition.

The Japan Times carried a small report on page … Original source on Gaea Times at : PM gets covered in Japanese press.

Manmohan Singh invites Japanese companies to join India’s growth story

NEW DELHI – While projecting India as a growing and vibrant market, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday invited Japanese companies to be part of India’s ambitious development plans, with a promise of improving the investment climate for foreign investors.

Ahead of his meeting with Japanese business leaders in Tokyo later in the day … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Manmohan Singh invites Japanese companies to join India’s growth story.

Nothing to do with Gujarat civic polls EVMs, says EC

NEW DELHI – The Election Commission was not associated with the use of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the just-concluded Gujarat civic bodies elections, a senior official said here Sunday.

Answering a question about the manipulation of the EVMs in the polls, Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla said the EVMs used in the …. Source  : Nothing to do with Gujarat civic polls EVMs, says EC.

52.55 percent votes cast in Bihar polls second phase

NEW DELHI – The Election Commission here Sunday said 52.55 percent votes were cast in the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections. Barring some stray incidents, the polling was largely peaceful.

The overall percentage of polling is likely to go up when the final tally comes, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Joztshi told mediapersons.
Elections …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 52.55 percent votes cast in Bihar polls second phase.

Iraq apex court orders parliament to reconvene

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Supreme Court Sunday ordered the country’s parliament to reconvene, after nearly eight months of political stalemate following inconclusive elections in March.

No precise date was set for the new session, however.
Since the March 7 general elections, the new-elected parliament has held only one session, in mid-June, which lasted just 20 minutes.
… Read more : Iraq apex court orders parliament to reconvene.