Lawmakers to press service chiefs for first time military gay ban

Lawmakers to press military on gay ban
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers will press the military’s top uniformed officers for the first time on whether they think repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” makes sense or would be too disruptive.
The testimony this week from each of the service chiefs will be crucial to the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Lawmakers to press service chiefs for first time military gay ban.

Budget session: Some bills likely to be tabled
NEW DELHI – A slew of bills ranging from setting up regulatory authorities for the bio-technology sector and television channels to firming up laws dealing with road safety are slated to come up in the budget session of parliament beginning Monday.

The long-delayed Broadcast Service Regulation Bill is expected to be introduced with a proposal to … Original article on : Budget session: Some bills likely to be tabled.

New age, tweet-up diplomacy (Capital Buzz)

NEW DELHI – This is instant diplomacy in the twitter age. When Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa met Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor last week, a ministerial tweet-up followed. This was perhaps the first time there was real time reporting on a bilateral …. Original source  : New age, tweet-up diplomacy (Capital Buzz).

George Fernandes Safe And Sound

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com) Reports claiming that former defense minister George Fernandes went missing have been refuted by his estranged wife Leila Kabir Fernandes on Saturday. While talking to news sources, the JD(U) leader’s wife emphasized that George Fernandes is safe and sound and has been staying with them.
At the same time, the … Read more »».

Gordon Brown denies hitting claims
LONDON – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said allegations that he hit a member of his staff are completely untrue.

Chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley’s new book apparently contains alleged details of the leader being abusive towards the people working around him.
However, Brown has dismissed ever misbehaving with his staff members.
“Let me just say, absolutely …. Original article  : Gordon Brown denies hitting claims.

Crucial budget session expected to be turbulent
NEW DELHI – Inflation, the looming food crisis, India-Pakistan talks and the internal security situation are expected to top the agenda of debates during the budget session of parliament beginning Monday with President Pratibha Patil’s address to both houses.

While the railway and union budgets will be presented Feb 24 and 26 respectively during the [..] Read the original article: here.

Raj Babbar Faces Criminal Charges For Pelting Stones

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com) Actor Raj Babbar faces criminal charges for pelting stones at policemen during a protest march which took place way back in the year 2000. The incident took place near the residence of the Prime Minister when Raj Babbar was part of the Samajwadi party. A Delhi court has finally … Read : Raj Babbar Faces Criminal Charges For Pelting Stones.

Sex and bribery claims rock Berlusconi’s world
LONDON – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has become mired in yet another controversy in run-up to the nation’s regional elections.

Just weeks after shrugging off a series of sex scandals, Berlusconi is now involved in a new scandal that includes sex, bribes and the exploitation of the earthquake that struck the town of L’Aquila in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Sex and bribery claims rock Berlusconi’s world.

Glenn Beck CPAC Speech: Full On Rhetoric, Little On Substance

WASHINGTON, (GaeaTimes.com)- Glenn Beck’s much awaited speech at the three day Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) was delivered on Saturday night, the last day of the three day event. The conservative political commentator put his skill as a radio and television host to full use, in order to make his speech colorful. However, according … Read : Glenn Beck CPAC Speech: Full On Rhetoric, Little On Substance.

Glenn Beck Wows CPAC

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com)- Glenn Beck wowed the CPAC, or the Conservative Political Action Conference audience in a conference with an explosive speech, and an even more dynamic closing statement. The conference was held in a hotel in Washington, for three days. Glenn Beck was the speaker for the final day of the conference, that is, …. Read the original article  : Glenn Beck Wows CPAC.

Student dies after self-immolation over Telangana
HYDERABAD – A 19-year-old student, who set himself on fire during protests over the Telangana issue, succumbed to his burns at a hospital here early Sunday.

A police officer said Siripur Yadaiah, who sustained 80 percent burns, died at Apollo DRDO Hospital.
Yadaiah, a class 12 student of New Nobel Junior College in the city, set …. Source article  : Student dies after self-immolation over Telangana.

Philippine troops kill 6 al-Qaida-linked militants in raid on rebel camp on southern island

Philippine troops kill 6 al-Qaida-linked militants

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine marines killed a top al-Qaida-linked militant commander and five other extremists early Sunday in an assault on a rebel encampment on a southern island, a senior military commander said.
A marine special operations platoon raided an Abu Sayyaf camp outside Maimbung township on Jolo island following intelligence … Read : Philippine troops kill 6 al-Qaida-linked militants in raid on rebel camp on southern island.

Commentator Beck cheered by activists in his appeal for Republicans to be conservatives again

Beck wants GOP to fess up like Tiger Woods

WASHINGTON – Glenn Beck says it’s still morning in America: a head-pounding, hangover morning.
The conservative commentator drew cheers from conservative activists Saturday night in a speech that implored Republicans to renounce profligate ways in Washington, let big banks fail and honor true conservative principles.
Beck was keynote speaker …. Source article  : Commentator Beck cheered by activists in his appeal for Republicans to be conservatives again.

Dalai Lama doesn’t fault Obama for low-profile reception, says US must be practical

Dalai Lama doesn’t fault Obama for low-key meeting
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – The Dalai Lama says he isn’t offended by the low-key reception he received from President Barack Obama during his visit to the White House earlier this week.
The exiled spiritual leader told the AP on Saturday that he understands Obama must be practical … Read : Dalai Lama doesn’t fault Obama for low-profile reception, says US must be practical.

Ron Paul wins informal ballot at conference of conservative activists

Ron Paul wins conservative straw poll
WASHINGTON – Rep. Ron Paul won the most support for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination in an unofficial straw poll of conservative activists attending an annual conference.
A libertarian from Texas who has railed against spending and the Federal Reserve, Paul won the Saturday contest at the Conservative Political …. Original article  : Ron Paul wins informal ballot at conference of conservative activists.

AP Top News at 6:35 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 6:35 p.m. EST
Fighting rages as Karzai urges restraint from NATO
MARJAH, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers advanced through poppy fields of Marjah on Saturday under withering gunfire from Taliban fighters shooting from mudbrick homes and compounds where families huddled in terror. President Hamid Karzai urged NATO to do more to …. Read the original article  : AP Top News at 6:35 p.m. EST.

AP Top News at 6:28 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 6:28 p.m. EST
Fighting rages as Karzai urges restraint from NATO
MARJAH, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers advanced through poppy fields of Marjah on Saturday under withering gunfire from Taliban fighters shooting from mudbrick homes and compounds where families huddled in terror. President Hamid Karzai urged NATO to do more to …. Original article  : AP Top News at 6:28 p.m. EST.

Ron Paul wins straw poll at conference of conservative activists

Ron Paul wins early conservative poll
WASHINGTON – Rep. Ron Paul won the most support for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination in an unofficial straw poll of conservative activists attending an annual conference.
A libertarian from Texas who has railed against spending and the Federal Reserve, Paul won the Saturday contest at the Conservative Political …. Original source  : Ron Paul wins straw poll at conference of conservative activists.

Alexander Haig, dead at 85, is remembered for service to 3 presidents and a remark gone awry

Alexander Haig remembered as soldier-statesman
WASHINGTON – Soldier and statesman, Alexander Haig never lived down his televised response to the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Haig died Saturday at age 85 having held high posts in three Republican administrations and some of the U.S. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Alexander Haig, dead at 85, is remembered for service to 3 presidents and a remark gone awry.

Irish, Israeli foreign ministers to meet over Dubai death
LONDON/DUBLIN – Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin is set to meet his Israeli counterpart in Brussels Monday at the request of Ireland, as questions continue to swirl around last month’s death of a leader from the Palestinian Hamas movement in Dubai.

Some of the people believed to have killed Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai …. Source article  : Irish, Israeli foreign ministers to meet over Dubai death.