Union Rail Budget 2010-11: Key Highlights

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com) — Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today presented the Railway Budget for the year 2010-11. Apart from announcing various new projects, she emphasized on ‘Vision 2020′, which would get shape very soon. In this budget Mamata has appealed to major business houses to build partnership with Railways. She also assured …. Source  : Union Rail Budget 2010-11: Key Highlights.

Naga leader Th Muivah to hold talks with Dr Singh

NEW DELHI – National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) General Secretary Th Muivah is expected to arrive New Delhi on Saturday (February 27) to hold talks with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
Sources said Dr Manmohan Singh has invited Th Muivah for talks …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Naga leader Th Muivah to hold talks with Dr Singh.

Queensland parliament to serve Indian menu

SYDNEY – Australia’s Queensland parliament will serve an Indian menu, including tandoori chicken, Wednesday as part of the Vindaloo Against Violence initiative to show solidarity with the Indian community.

Vindaloo Against Violence was started by Mia Northrop, a Melbourne woman who is encouraging Australians to take a stand against racial violence by eating out at Indian …. Original source  : Queensland parliament to serve Indian menu.

Toyota chief faces ‘crucial test’ in Washington hearing after US sales head fails to impress

Toyota chief faces ‘crucial test’ in US hearing

TOKYO – Toyota President Akio Toyoda faces increased pressure to win back consumer trust in his congressional testimony Wednesday after the company’s U.S. sales chief failed to provide clear answers to the automaker’s slew of safety problems.
The national Asahi newspaper said in an editorial that Toyoda’s performance would … Original article on : Toyota chief faces ‘crucial test’ in Washington hearing after US sales head fails to impress.

Chancellor Darling accuses ‘bully’ Brown of ‘unleashing forces of hell’ against him

LONDON – Chancellor Alistair Darling has revealed how British Prime Minister Gordon Brown unleashed the “forces of hell” in order to bully him.

Darling claimed that Brown’s spin-doctors knifed him in the back after he predicted the recession would be the worst for 60 years.
“The weekend after I’d done this interview the forces of hell were …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chancellor Darling accuses ‘bully’ Brown of ‘unleashing forces of hell’ against him.

Mamata at feisty best as she delivers rail budget

NEW DELHI – Combative, hectoring and ploughing on regardless of the commotion around her, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was at feisty best Wednesday when she presented the railway budget for a marathon two hours.
Dressed in a white and green sari and her trademark rubber slippers, Banerjee presented her second budget speech in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mamata at feisty best as she delivers rail budget.

6 Haitian orphans to resume journey to US homes after being handed over to embassy

6 Haitian orphans to resume trip to US homes

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Six U.S.-bound orphans seized by Haitian officials as they prepared to board a flight to Miami were to resume their journey to American homes on Wednesday after being handed over to the U.S. Embassy.
Jan Bonnema, the Minnesota-based founder of the Cap-Haitien orphanage where the … Read : 6 Haitian orphans to resume journey to US homes after being handed over to embassy.

Prime Minister to discuss Bt-brinjal issue

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday will meet Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan and Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh to discuss the issue of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Prime Minister to discuss Bt-brinjal issue.

In Japan, Olympic figure skating trumps Toyota hearing as Lentz fails to impress

In Japan, figure skating trumps Toyota hearing

TOKYO – Olympic figure skating grabbed more Japanese media attention Wednesday than Toyota’s first hearing in Washington where the automaker’s U.S. sales chief failed to provide clear answers to its slew of safety problems.
Analysts said that will put more pressure on Toyota President Akio Toyoda to deliver during his … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : In Japan, Olympic figure skating trumps Toyota hearing as Lentz fails to impress.

Speaker rejects adjournment motion on price rise

NEW DELHI – Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Wednesday rejected the opposition demand of adjourning all other business to discuss rising food prices and said it would be taken up only after the railway budget. This triggered a furore in the opposition ranks, leading to the house being adjourned.
The Lok Sabha had a … Read more : Speaker rejects adjournment motion on price rise.

Election to Himachal Rajya Sabha seat next month

SHIMLA – The election to one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from Himachal Pradesh would be held next month with union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma completing his term, an official said here Wednesday.

The seat is falling vacant April 2.
“The election to one Rajya Sabha seat would be held March 26. …. Original source  : Election to Himachal Rajya Sabha seat next month.

Rajya Sabha again adjourned over price rise

NEW DELHI – The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second successive day Wednesday with the opposition demanding a discussion on rising prices of essential commodities under a rule that requires voting.

The trouble began when the house assembled at 11 a.m. with S.S. Ahluwalia and other members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding that …. Original source  : Rajya Sabha again adjourned over price rise.

‘Indo-US ties a model for Bangladesh and China’

DHAKA – Bangladesh wants to engage in “a pro-active and balanced diplomacy” with China, akin to the relationship between India and the US, a senior ruling Awami League leader said as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prepares for her Beijing visit.
Hasina is to embark on her fist visit to China March … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘Indo-US ties a model for Bangladesh and China’.

No permission for Varun’’s Saharanpur rally, BJP furious

LUCKNOW – Citing lack of security personnel, the administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district has denied Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi permission to hold a rally next month. But the party is determined to go ahead and says it is a politically motivated move.

The rally in Saharanpur, about 400 km from here, is …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : No permission for Varun’’s Saharanpur rally, BJP furious.

A year after backing Obama 2 to 1, youth support for Democrats fades amid Washington inaction

Dem youth support waning amid gov’t gridlock
WASHINGTON – Whither the youth vote? A year after backing Barack Obama by an overwhelming 2-to-1 ratio, young adults are quickly cooling toward Democrats amid dissatisfaction over the lack of change in Washington and an escalating war in Afghanistan.
A study by the Pew Research Center, being released …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : A year after backing Obama 2 to 1, youth support for Democrats fades amid Washington inaction.

A year after backing Obama 2 to 1, youth support for Democrats fade amid Washington inaction

Dem support among youths waning amid govt gridlock
WASHINGTON – Whither the youth vote? A year after backing Barack Obama by an overwhelming 2-to-1 ratio, young adults are quickly cooling toward Democrats amid dissatisfaction over the lack of change in Washington and an escalating war in Afghanistan.
A study by the Pew Research Center, being …. Read the original article  : here.

Arizona House panel approves bill requiring presidential candidates to show birth certificates

Ariz. lawmakers: Verify citizenship of candidates
PHOENIX – Nearly half of the Arizona Legislature wants to force President Barack Obama to show his birth certificate to state officials if he runs for re-election.
A state House committee on Tuesday approved the measure sponsored by 40 of the state’s 90 legislators. It would require presidential candidates … Read more >>>.

Effort to reconstitute a government for Native Hawaiians clears House, governor objects

House gives boost to Native Hawaiian government
WASHINGTON – Congress moved closer Tuesday to allowing Native Hawaiians to establish their own government despite objections from the state’s governor.
By a vote of 245-164, the House passed a bill largely along party lines that gives Native Hawaiians the same opportunity provided to Alaska Natives and 564 … Original article on : Effort to reconstitute a government for Native Hawaiians clears House, governor objects.

Senate investigation says Army turned blind eye as Blackwater hired violent drug users

Senate panel finds lawless Blackwater contractors

WASHINGTON – A Senate investigation has found that lax oversight of Blackwater contractors contributed to the death of two Afghan civilians and fed anti-Western sentiment.
Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will convene a hearing on Wednesday looking into circumstances surrounding a May 2009 shooting that killed …. Original article  : Senate investigation says Army turned blind eye as Blackwater hired violent drug users.

Lawmakers say government must act to stop libel tourism ‘humiliation’ of Britain

UK lawmakers: govt must act to stop libel tourism

LONDON – A committee of British lawmakers says the government should change the country’s laws to stop “libel tourism” from stifling investigative journalism and press freedom.
The chairman of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee said Wednesday that it was “a humiliation” that several U.S. … Read more >>.