NYC judge tosses lawsuit against Biden's son, brother over 2006 purchase of hedge fundOctober 19th, 2009 NYC judge tosses suit against Biden's son, brotherNEW YORK — A judge has thrown out a lawsuit against Vice President Joe Biden's youngest son and brother over their 2006 purchase of a hedge fund firm, saying an investor failed to be specific enough in claiming that they underhandedly shoehorned him out of the deal. Stephane Farouze didn't lay out his allegations against Hunter Biden and James Biden "with any meaningful degree of particularity," Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Bernard J.
Make RTI Act available in all Indian languages, says vice presidentOctober 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Vice President Hamid Ansari Tuesday expressed concern over unavailability of information on the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, or the act itself in 22 official languages of India and said this needs to be addressed at the earliest. Ansari was speaking at the second and the concluding day of the 4th annual RTI convention oragnised by the Central Information Commission (CIC) here.
President to inaugurate RTI convention MondayOctober 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil will Monday inaugurate the fourth national convention on Right to Information (RTI) organised by the Central Information Commission (CIC), an official statement said here Sunday. Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, central information commissioners, policy makers, social activists, academicians and NGOs, among others, will take part in the two-day event.
Indonesia's anti-corruption chief goes on trial for businessman's slayingOctober 8th, 2009 Indonesian anti-graft chief on trial for murderJAKARTA, Indonesia — The chief of Indonesia's anti-corruption commission went on trial Thursday charged with masterminding the murder of the head of a state-owned company. Antasari Azhar, 56, was arrested in May, two months after Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, director of pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, was shot to death at a golf course on the outskirts of Jakarta, the capital.
Ex-Mass. biotech firm executive sentenced to 3 years for faking cancer to avoid SEC complaintOctober 6th, 2009 Ex-biotech exec gets 3 years for faking cancerBOSTON — A former executive of Biopure Corp. has been sentenced to three years in prison for pretending he had terminal colon cancer to dodge a federal lawsuit filed by securities regulators.
Obama-Dalai Lama meeting delayed to curry favour with China: reportOctober 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - For the first time since 1991, the Dalai Lama will visit Washington this week and not meet with the president as the US has delayed a meeting in an attempt to gain favour with China, according to the Washington Post. US pressured Tibetan representatives to postpone the meeting between the Tibetan spiritual leader and President Barack Obama until after Obama's summit next month with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, the influential US daily reported Monday citing diplomats, government officials and other sources familiar with the talks.
Court hears appeal in case of Fla. lawyer accused of receiving $5M in drug-tainted legal feesSeptember 23rd, 2009 Fla. court hears alleged tainted legal fees caseMIAMI — In a case watched closely by defense attorneys nationwide, federal prosecutors urged a skeptical appeals court panel on Wednesday to reinstate a money-laundering conspiracy charge against a prominent lawyer accused of illegally accepting more than $5 million in tainted legal fees from a Colombian cocaine baron. Vijay Shanker, a Justice Department appellate lawyer, told the panel that a Miami district court judge wrongly dismissed the key count against attorney Ben Kuehne, a former counsel to Vice President Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election recount.
French ex-PM on trial over 'smear campaign'September 21st, 2009 PARIS - Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin went on trial Monday charged with plotting to discredit politicians including President Nicolas Sarkozy. "I am here because of one man's determination, Nicolas Sarkozy," Villepin said at a court here.
American dream burns bright, new visa section opensSeptember 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With over half a million Indians going to the US, Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer Monday opened a new consular section at the US embassy here that will smoothen the process of getting American visas and and cement people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Bangladesh authorities investigate marriage between 13-year-old girl, 75-year-old manSeptember 13th, 2009 Bangladesh probes marriage of teen to elderly manDHAKA, Bangladesh — Authorities in southern Bangladesh are investigating whether a 13-year-old girl was forced to marry a 75-year-old man as a way to pay off her father's debt, local media reported Sunday. Lokman Shikder loaned the girl's father, Azhar Bepari, 4,000 takas ($59) several months ago, but Bepari had trouble repaying it, the United News of Bangladesh news agency reported.
Drug consumption not a crime: Colombian courtSeptember 9th, 2009 BOGOTA - Colombia's Supreme Court ruled that possession of illegal drugs for personal use is not a criminal offence, citing a 1994 decision by the country's Constitutional Court, Caracol Radio reports. Drug consumption "generates in a person problems of addiction and slavery that turn one into a sick, compulsive individual deserving of therapeutic medical treatment instead of a punishment", the judges said Wednesday.
SC seals fate of disqualified DUSU candidates, dismisses petitionSeptember 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court on Thursday sealed the fate of five students from National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (AVBP), who challenged disqualification of their nomination for the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election. The apex court dismissed the special leave petition filed by NSUI candidate Deepak Negi and another student, and said: "We find no ground to interfere with the impugned order of the High Court.
Rajya Sabha website inaccessible to visually impaired: NGOSeptember 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The newly launched website of the Rajya Sabha has several glitches which make it difficult for the visually impaired to access information posted on it, an NGO said Tuesday. The website was launched July 30 by Vice President Hamid Ansari, who is also the Rajya Sabha chairman.
Disqualified DUSU candidates plea dismissed by Delhi High CourtSeptember 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - A plea filed by five disqualified Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) poll candidates from National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (AVBP) was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. The students had filed a petition in the High Court challenging the University's decision, which had disqualified them on the ground of violation of code of conduct following failure to comply with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, however the High Court said that the Chief Election Officer had taken the decision in accordance with the rules.
Nepal Vice President's position defunct from todayAugust 31st, 2009 KATHMANDU - Paramananda Jha's position as Nepal Vice President has become defunct from Monday with Jha's refusal to take oath in Nepali within the deadline given by the Supreme Court. Rejecting the Supreme Court ruling that ordered him to take fresh oath in Nepali, Vice President Jha has declared that he will decide whether to retake the oath only if the Constitution is amended.
