Most Aussies want to have beer with Oz PM Julia Gillard: Study

MELBOURNE – A survey has found that a majority of Australians would rather have a beer with new Prime Minister Julia Gillard than Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

The exclusive Galaxy poll conducted nationwide showed that Gillard, 48, came way ahead of Abbott, 52, where personality traits were concerned.

“By a factor of around two to one she …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Most Aussies want to have beer with Oz PM Julia Gillard: Study.

Dick Cheney Hospitalized After Illness

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com)- Dick Cheney, the former Vice President of United States who is counted among one of the most influential and strong Vice Presidents ever in the history of the United States politics, has once again been admitted to the hospital on Friday. The spokesman of Dick Cheney, Peter Long has said to …. Read the original article  : Dick Cheney Hospitalized After Illness.

AP Interview: US diplomat warns Turkey of eroding support, urges show of commitment to West

US: Turkey must demonstrate commitment to West
WASHINGTON – The United States is warning Turkey that it is alienating U.S. supporters and needs to demonstrate its commitment to partnership with the West.
The remarks by Philip Gordon, the Obama administration’s top diplomat on European affairs, were a rare admonishment of a crucial NATO ally.
“We think … Read more : AP Interview: US diplomat warns Turkey of eroding support, urges show of commitment to West.

World leaders moving to discussions of nuclear threats posed by Iran and North Korea

World summit turning attention to nuclear threats
HUNTSVILLE, Ontario – After failing to resolve their differences on economic strategy, world leaders are turning their attention to grappling with some of the globe’s toughest foreign policy problems.
President Barack Obama and other leaders of the Group of Eight countries meeting in Canada were to open their …. Read the original article  : World leaders moving to discussions of nuclear threats posed by Iran and North Korea.

SAARC meet begins

ISLAMABAD – Home ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) began a meeting here Saturday.
The issue of counter-terrorism will top the conference agenda along with implementation of recommendations to enhance cooperation among member countries, Geo news reported.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik is chairing the conference, attended by Indian Home …. Read the original article  : SAARC meet begins.

Manmohan Singh leaves for Toronto to packed schedule

FRANKFURT – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for Toronto for the G-20 Summit Saturday and Sunday where he is also set to hold talks with a host of world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, and sign a bilateral nuclear cooperation pact with Canada.
The prime minister’s special aircraft Air India One had …. Source  : Manmohan Singh leaves for Toronto to packed schedule.

In NYC, Britain’s Prince Harry to visit UNICEF, throw out 1st pitch at Mets-Twins game

UNICEF, Mets on tap for British prince in NYC

NEW YORK – Britain’s Prince Harry showed he can shoot. On the second day of his U.S. visit, New Yorkers get to see his arm.
After firing an M4 rifle during a training exercise Friday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Harry was scheduled to throw … Read more »»».

Pak asks Afghanistan to stop use of its soil for fanning insurgency in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD – In an apparent reference to India’s alleged role in fanning insurgency in Balochistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked Afghanistan to ensure that its territory is not used by any other country to destabilise Pakistan.
Talking to Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, Gilani said both countries must work together to … Read more : Pak asks Afghanistan to stop use of its soil for fanning insurgency in Balochistan.

Now Russian president creates buzz with Twitter

TORONTO – “Met with David Cameron. Have agreed that we’ll continue to speak in person, not just online @number10gov…” It is no buddy chat online, but Russian President Dmitry Medvedev tweeting about his day’s engagements with world leaders at the G-8 summit Friday.

The Russian head of state, who was huddled with other G-8 leaders on …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Now Russian president creates buzz with Twitter.

Afghanistan’s government reports explosion in the capital near embassies, offices

Afghan gov’t: Blast rocks Kabul’s diplomatic area

KABUL, Afghanistan – An explosion hit the Afghan capital Saturday morning in an area that is home to foreign embassies and government offices.
Zemeri Bashary, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said the blast occurred near the Afghan Foreign Ministry. A number of foreign embassies and offices of international …. Source  : Afghanistan’s government reports explosion in the capital near embassies, offices.

NKorea to elect new party leaders in possible campaign to elevate Kim Jong Il’s son as heir

NKorea to elect leaders amid succession campaign

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea said Saturday it will elect new party leaders at a rare meeting in September in what analysts say could be a move to strengthen a campaign to hand over power from supreme leader Kim Jong Il to his youngest son.
Kim, who suffered an … Read : NKorea to elect new party leaders in possible campaign to elevate Kim Jong Il’s son as heir.

Obama to host African leaders in August

TORONTO – US President Barack Obama will host African leaders from countries celebrating 50 years since independence in August, an administration official said.
Obama, whose father was from Kenya, announced the White House celebration during a meeting with African leaders at the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Huntsville, Canada.
“I’ll be 49 in …. Read the original article  : here.

India pleased yet guarded on nuke group’s stand

NEW DELHI – Indian officials noted with satisfaction the statement issued by the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) on the prospect of civil nuclear cooperation with it but were wary about the stance taken by the 46-member body on the proposed China-Pakistan nuclear deal,
Indian officials, who were closely watching the developments of … Original source on Gaea Times at : India pleased yet guarded on nuke group’s stand.

We endorse India-Pakistan dialogue: US

WASHINGTON – The United States has expressed its appreciation for the increasing dialogue between Pakistan and India, saying it’s in their self-interest and larger US interest to reduce tensions through talks.
“Just as we’ve said many, many times, we appreciate and certainly endorse increasing dialogue between Pakistan and India,” State Department spokesman Phillip … Original source on Gaea Times at : We endorse India-Pakistan dialogue: US.

Publicly funded elections starting in Hawaii despite potential legal questions

Big Island launching publicly funding elections

HONOLULU – Hawaii is moving forward with its test run of publicly funded political campaigns this election year, despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against a similar setup in Arizona.
The state’s experiment with publicly funded elections starts with this fall’s Hawaii County Council contest.
According to the Campaign Spending Commission, …. Original article  : Publicly funded elections starting in Hawaii despite potential legal questions.

Ecuadorean President Correa offers to mediate guerrilla conflict in Colombia

Correa offers to mediate Colombia conflict
OTAVALO, Ecuador – Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said Friday that he would be happy to try to mediate an end to Colombia’s long-running conflict with leftist rebels.
He also said in an interview with The Associated Press that he’d be pleased to attend the Aug. 7 inauguration of Colombian …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Appeals court panel upholds decision against German Tennis Federation in lawsuit against ATP

Court rejects ATP appeal by German Tennis group

DOVER, Del. – A federal appeals court on Friday rejected a challenge from the German Tennis Federation to a court decision that cleared the way for the ATP Tour’s tournament restructuring.
A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia affirmed a 2008 federal jury … Read more : Appeals court panel upholds decision against German Tennis Federation in lawsuit against ATP.

The G-8 Muskoka Summit: Saving Lives Through the New G-8 Maternal and Child Health Initiative

The Muskoka Initiative:  Under Canada’s leadership, the G-8 has launched the Muskoka Initiative on maternal and child health (MCH), a comprehensive and integrated approach to accelerate progress towards Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, which seek to reduce by two-thirds the under-five child mortality rate, and reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio, respectively.  …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Memorandum from the President to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Regarding H.R. 3962

SUBJECT:Providing Stability and Security for Medicare Reimbursements
I have today signed into law H.R. 3962, the "Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010", which averts a 21.3 percent reduction in the Medicare physician fee schedule and replaces it with a 2.2 percent increase through November 2010.  By this memorandum, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Memorandum from the President to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Regarding H.R. 3962.

G8 pledges $7.3 bn for poor countries

HUNTSVILLE – World leaders and donor groups have pledged $7.3 billion in aid by 2015 to reduce child mortality and save women in poor countries from dying in childbirth, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday.

The leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrial economies have pledged $5 billion, while non-members such as New Zealand, …. Source article  : G8 pledges $7.3 bn for poor countries.