Japan calls for talks over detained Chinese fisherman

TOKYO – Japan hoped to hold talks with Beijing to defuse an escalating row over a Chinese fisherman detained near disputed islands, an official said Wednesday.

China has repeatedly called for the release of the boat captain arrested two weeks ago, while Tokyo was pressing charges against him for allegedly obstructing the Japanese Coast Guard in …. Read the original article  : here.

Book depicts intense internal White House dissension, says aides doubt Obama’s Afghan strategy

Book says aides doubt Obama’s Afghan strategy

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s top advisers are depicted in a new book as arguing over much of the past 20 months about policy and turf, with some top members of his national security team doubting the president’s strategy in Afghanistan will work.
The book, “Obama’s Wars,” by journalist Bob … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Book depicts intense internal White House dissension, says aides doubt Obama’s Afghan strategy.

Woman on track to be 1st female executed in Va in nearly a century as high court clears way

Va. could execute 1st woman in nearly a century

RICHMOND, Va. – A woman convicted of two hired killings is scheduled to die by injection Thursday and become the first woman put to death in Virginia in nearly a century, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block her execution.
Teresa Lewis, 41, was sentenced to death … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Woman on track to be 1st female executed in Va in nearly a century as high court clears way.

UN launches global campaign to save 16 million mothers and children over 5 years

UN promotes health campaign for women, children

UNITED NATIONS – A global campaign that aims to save the lives of 16 million mothers and children over the next five years was being launched by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday with as much as $40 billion in commitments from world governments and private aid groups.
The so-called …. Original article  : UN launches global campaign to save 16 million mothers and children over 5 years.

Obama, Dems push issues, intensify efforts to get core backers fired up for elections

Dems’ plea to core voters: We need you fired up

WASHINGTON – Democrats desperately need other Democrats – to vote.
With midterm elections in just six weeks – and Republicans fired up and ready to go – Democratic leaders are pushing issues that resonate with their constituencies, from trying to repeal the ban on gays serving openly … Read more : Obama, Dems push issues, intensify efforts to get core backers fired up for elections.

NY Republicans call on Lazio to end governor campaign, fall in line with party behind Paladino

NY Republicans want Lazio to give up on gov try

NEW YORK – New York Republican leaders want former U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio to end his campaign for governor after losing his party’s primary to tea party favorite Carl Paladino.
Lazio continues to have the support of the state’s Conservative Party and could run as its gubernatorial … Read more »»».

China premier threatens Japan with ‘further actions’ over boat dispute

China premier threatens Japan over boat dispute

BEIJING – China’s premier is warning that his country will take “further actions” in Japan does not immediately release a ship captain at the center of a growing dispute between the two Asian powers.
Wen Jiabao’s comments are the first by a top Chinese leader on the issue that has …. Source article  : China premier threatens Japan with ‘further actions’ over boat dispute.

Six inducted into Karnataka ministry

BANGALORE – Six people were inducted into the Karnataka council of ministers Wednesday, a day after unprecedented public display of dissent by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators denied a cabinet berth.

Shobha Karandlage, the woman Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa was forced to drop last year to save his chair and over which he sobbed publicly, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Six inducted into Karnataka ministry.

Republicans block defense bill, ending Democrats’ push to legalize immigrant youth

DREAM Act dies with rejection of defense bill

WASHINGTON – The chance for hundreds of thousands of young people to legally remain in the U.S. evaporated Tuesday when Republicans blocked a defense spending bill in the Senate.
Democrats failed to get a single Republican to help them reach the 60 votes needed to move forward on the … Original article on : Republicans block defense bill, ending Democrats’ push to legalize immigrant youth.

Trial concludes in case of Wash. lesbian seeking Air Force reinstatement; judge to rule Friday

Judge to rule Friday on Witt’s return to Air Force

TACOMA, Wash. – A lawyer for a decorated flight nurse discharged for being gay urged a federal judge Tuesday to reinstate her to the Air Force Reserve, and the judge indicated he might have no other choice.
U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton in Tacoma said he … Read : Trial concludes in case of Wash. lesbian seeking Air Force reinstatement; judge to rule Friday.

Mideast peacemakers push Israel on settlements, 3rd round of talks still not set

Mideast peacemakers push Israel on settlements

UNITED NATIONS – The Quartet of Mideast peacemakers shepherding the newly started direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations called on Israel to extend its settlement freeze past Sunday, while cautioning both sides to refrain from “provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric.”
Senior diplomats from the Quartet – the U.S., the European Union, the United Nations …. Source  : Mideast peacemakers push Israel on settlements, 3rd round of talks still not set.

Mass. Republican congressional candidate calls Palin ‘an entertainer,’ doesn’t want her help

GOP congressional hopeful: Palin an ‘entertainer’

NEWTON, Mass. – The Republican running for the only open congressional seat in Massachusetts says former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is “an entertainer” and he would decline any offer from her to campaign on his behalf.
State Rep. Jeffrey Perry told New England Cable News in an interview Tuesday that … Original source on Gaea Times at : Mass. Republican congressional candidate calls Palin ‘an entertainer,’ doesn’t want her help.

Veterans ask GOP candidate Whitman to explain her poor voting record, say it rings of apathy

Veterans criticize Whitman for poor voting record

LOS ANGELES – A small group of union-backed veterans is asking GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman to explain why she failed to vote for most of her adult life.
A half dozen veterans delivered a letter to Whitman’s East Los Angeles campaign office Tuesday. The letter says they fought to …. Source article  : Veterans ask GOP candidate Whitman to explain her poor voting record, say it rings of apathy.

Bush strategist Karl Rove-backed group criticizes NH Democrat Hodes’ vote on spending

Karl Rove-backed group criticizes NH Dem Hodes

CONCORD, N.H. – A group created under the direction of former Bush strategist Karl Rove is targeting U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Paul Hodes of New Hampshire in a television ad that challenges Hodes’ claim to be against pork spending in Washington.
The American Crossroads ad began running Tuesday and quoted …. Original source  : Bush strategist Karl Rove-backed group criticizes NH Democrat Hodes’ vote on spending.

Pa. GOP Senate nominee hopes to tap star power of new Mass. senator who won Kennedy’s seat

Mass. Sen. Brown to headline Pa. Senate fundraiser

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Freshman U.S. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts will headline a Philadelphia fundraiser for Pennsylvania’s Republican candidate for Senate, Pat Toomey.
The Friday fundraiser with Brown makes him the second New England senator in two months to raise money for Toomey in Philadelphia.
Brown declined comment through a … Read more »»».

British gov’t says local elections in Turks and Caicos postponed while reforms take root

Britain: No election next year in Turks and Caicos

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – An election to return self governance for the Turks and Caicos Islands has been postponed, a British Foreign Office minister announced Tuesday, extending London’s direct rule over the Caribbean dependency.
Henry Bellingham, the minister for overseas territories, said elections set for July 2011 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : British gov’t says local elections in Turks and Caicos postponed while reforms take root.

NATO, Russia planning for Lisbon summit

WASHINGTON – Representatives of the NATO-Russia Council are to set the stage Wednesday for a summit in Lisbon later this year that will include Russia, the US ambassador to NATO said.

NATO and Russian foreign ministers are to meet informally in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to seek “agreement that the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : NATO, Russia planning for Lisbon summit.

The new tea party is still disjointed, but it has energy, money and detente with Republicans

New tea party: energy, money and detente with GOP

WASHINGTON – Tea party activists and the Republican establishment are quickly joining forces for the fall elections as fresh cash and energy flow to the upstarts.
Separate tea party groups still squabble over roles for Republican insiders within the movement, but the conservative activists and GOP stalwarts have … Read this article on Gaea Times at : The new tea party is still disjointed, but it has energy, money and detente with Republicans.

Senate panel finishing evidence hearings in impeachment trial of Louisiana judge

Senate panel wrapping up impeachment hearings

WASHINGTON – Attorneys for Judge G. Thomas Porteous are wrapping up their defense before a Senate impeachment panel hearing a case that could make him just the eighth federal judge to be removed from the bench.
Porteous’ attorneys are calling the last of some two dozen witnesses who have testified over …. Original source  : Senate panel finishing evidence hearings in impeachment trial of Louisiana judge.

Dream Act 2010 Status: Rejected

Unfortunately enough the Dream Act 2010 has been rejected in the Senate today.
A total count of 60 votes was necessary to bring it to the floor but senators voted 56 to 43 for the bill. If passed, the legislation would have granted conditional legal residency for six years to immigrants younger than 35 who … Original article on : Dream Act 2010 Status: Rejected.