Renaming of auditorium after Rajiv Gandhi sparks row

HYDERABAD – The move to rename an open-air auditorium in the city after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi has sparked a row, with the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) saying it was a ploy by Congress legislators to please Sonia Gandhi.

“The ruling Congress leaders are renaming the building to please Sonia Gandhi,” …. Original source  : Renaming of auditorium after Rajiv Gandhi sparks row.

Gadkari, Dikshit trade charges on Bihar development

PATNA – Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress continue to trade charges over the state of development in Bihar.

The latest salvo was fired by BJP president Nitin Gadkari and countered by senior Congress leader and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

While Gadkari claimed that the BJP has played a major role in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Gadkari, Dikshit trade charges on Bihar development.

Chinese article on reforms appears critical of Premier Jiabao: NYT

BEIJING – An opinion article in China’s main Communist Party newspaper – People’s Daily – appears to be obliquely aimed at Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

According to the New York Times, the article criticizes Jiabao for suggesting more reforms in the country’s administrative system.

Jiabao is said to have called for facilitating economic progress with systemic …. Original article  : Chinese article on reforms appears critical of Premier Jiabao: NYT.

Key to test Henry’s ‘racial-slur’ fallout in meeting with Manmohan at East Asia Summit

WELLINGTON – New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has said that a meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh at the East Asia Summit this weekend will be an opportunity for him to ‘take India’s temperature’ and test if the Paul Henry controversy has had any lasting ‘fallout’.

The meeting “will be an opportunity to take … Read : Key to test Henry’s ‘racial-slur’ fallout in meeting with Manmohan at East Asia Summit.

US sees progress on key issues before Obama visit

WASHINGTON – Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s trip to India, officials indicated forward movement in ironing out differences on issues ranging from India’s nuclear liability regime to US export controls on high tech items as it sees India as a “very important market and a “key economic ally”.

“We see India as an …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

State governments to help regulate illegal migration

NEW DELHI – Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi Thursday called on state governments to partner his ministry in helping regulate illegal migration of workers from the country.

“The state governments should prosecute fraudulent recruiting and travel agents with the efficient use of the state police,” Ravi said inaugurating the third annual consultation meeting …. Source  : State governments to help regulate illegal migration.

Nominations for Jharkhand panchayat polls begin

RANCHI – Filing of nominations for the first panchayat polls in Jharkhand began Thursday, an official said.

People in Jharkhand will elect representatives to local bodies for the first time since the creation of the state in 2000. The notification of the first phase of the five-phase polls was issued Wednesday.
A total of 1,348 …. Source  : Nominations for Jharkhand panchayat polls begin.

Hundreds of thousands vote in Bihar – peacefully (Third Lead)

PATNA – Nearly 2.5 million had voted by midday Thursday across six districts of Bihar in the third round of staggered elections to pick a new 243-member house. Police reported minor clasehs.

Balloting continued briskly in 48 constituencies where men and women queued up outside thousands of polling centres, defyig calls from Maoists to boycott … Read more »»».

Manmohan Singh leaves for Vietnam

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left here Thursday for Vietnam on the final leg of his Asian tour, after a three-day trip to Malaysia where he concluded negotiations on the path-breaking Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).

Manmohan Singh, who held extensive bilateral discussions with his counterpart Najib Tun Razak, said the …. Source article  : Manmohan Singh leaves for Vietnam.

Over Rs.6 lakh recovered from Congress leaders’ room

PATNA – Police Thursday morning recovered Rs.6.40 lakh from the hotel room of Congress leaders in Bihar’s Begusarai town, a few hours ahead of an election rally of party president Sonia Gandhi for the ongoing assembly polls.

A police team raided a hotel room of Bihar Youth Congress president Lalan Kumar and Sagar Raika, who … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Over Rs.6 lakh recovered from Congress leaders’ room.

BJP leader Naidu demands clear Central policy on Kashmir

CHENNAI – Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M.Venkaiah Naidu has asked the Central Government to come out with a clear policy on Kashmir and also sought strict action against Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy for favouring secessionists in Kashmir.

Naidu also criticized hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and pro-Maoist leader Varavara Rao for …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : BJP leader Naidu demands clear Central policy on Kashmir.

BJP’s Kashmir unit calls for boycott of central government interlocutors

JAMMU – The Bharatiya Janata Party plans to boycott the three interlocutors appointed by the Central Government to gather views from a cross-section of people and leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on how to resolve the problems besetting the region.

BJP state unit president Shamsher Singh Manhal told media on Wednesday that the Kashmir issue is …. Read the original article  : here.

BJP slams Kashmir interlocutor’s statement on ‘azadi’

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday came down heavily on Radha Kumar, one of the three Kashmir interlocutors, for her reported suggestion that the constitution could be amended to accommodate a “discussion on the azadi option for Jammu and Kashmir”.

“She is nobody to talk like this. She has no jurisdiction. This … Original source on Gaea Times at : BJP slams Kashmir interlocutor’s statement on ‘azadi’.

Obama to celebrate Diwali with Indian kids

WASHINGTON – Underscoring India’s importance as “a cornerstone” of broader Asia approach of a US focused on expanding exports, President Barack Obama begins a four-nation trip to Asia next week with his first halt in Mumbai.

Obama’s three-day schedule in India is built around the context of expanding US exports to India while increasing investments … Read more »».

Berlusconi gave me cash after sex, claims teenage Moroccan model

LONDON – A teenage Moroccan model has apparently claimed that she had sex with Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in return for a cash ‘gift’.

According to Italian press reports, the girl – identified only as Ruby and allegedly an illegal immigrant – has claimed that she had consensual sex with the prime minister at his …. Read the original article  : Berlusconi gave me cash after sex, claims teenage Moroccan model.

Former president Kirchner’s death stuns Argentina

Buenos Aires, Oct 28 (IANS/EFE) The death of former president Nestor Kirchner, husband of current head of state Cristina Fernandez, has stunned Argentina and fueled uncertainty about the country’s political future one year shy of the next presidential election.

The 60-year-old Kirchner, who governed Argentina from 2003 to 2007, died suddenly of a heart attack …. Read the original article  : Former president Kirchner’s death stuns Argentina.

Manmohan Singh heads for Hanoi to attend ASEAN, East-Asia Summits

HANOI – As part of India’s Look East policy which aims at furthering and strengthening its interests in the entire East Asia and South East Asia Region, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh arrives here on Thursday to take part in the 17th ASEAN Summit and other related Summits that are scheduled for tomorrow.

A number … Read more »».

Congress leader slams Sharad Yadav for use of ‘criminal’ language against Rahul Gandhi

PATNA/RAXAUL – Senior Congress party leader B K Hariprasad has criticized Janata Dal United (JD-U) president Sharad Yadav for using indecent and inappropriate language in describing Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Voicing his ire in state capital Patna on Wednesday, Hariprasad said a seasoned politician like Yadav should not have used such words and added that … Read more >>.

Bihar polls: Voting under way for third phase (Second Lead)

PATNA – Voting was under way Thursday in the third phase of Bihar’s elections, with the stakes high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the 48 constituencies spread across six districts.

Ignoring the Maoists’ call of poll boycott, voters, particularly women and youths, queued up outside the polling booths soon after balloting began at …. Read the original article  : here.

Voting begins for third phase of Bihar polls

PATNA – The third phase of the Bihar assembly elections to pick a new 243- member house began Thursday in 48 constituencies in the state’s fertile belt where stakes are high for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Voting began at 7 a.m. amid tight security. About 10.3 million people are eligible to vote to determine the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Voting begins for third phase of Bihar polls.