If you can’t say anything nice, Calif. lawmakers prefer you button-up during Cuss Free Week

Let’s clean up the language, Calif. lawmakers say

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California lawmakers have a history of trying to keep the state’s air and waters clean. Now they’re tackling language.
The state Assembly is scheduled to vote on a resolution Thursday calling for a statewide “Cuss Free Week,” to occur annually during the first week of March. … Read more >>>.

UN commission probing Benazir assassination meets ISI chief

ISLAMABAD – The UN commission probing the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto met Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt.Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha here as part of its investigation.

According to insiders, President Asif Ali …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : UN commission probing Benazir assassination meets ISI chief.

India asks Pakistan to arrest 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed (Third Lead)

NEW DELHI – The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan concluded their talks here Thursday, with New Delhi making a strong pitch for the arrest of the suspected Mumbai terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed and airing its concerns over a recent spike in infiltration.

India also sought information from Pakistan on the role of the Pakistani-American …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : India asks Pakistan to arrest 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed (Third Lead).

Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief Fonseka to lead new opposition coalition at parliamentary elections

Detained ex-army chief to contest Sri Lanka vote

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief who was detained on accusations of sedition after losing presidential elections is set to lead a new opposition coalition in an April parliamentary vote, a party official said Thursday.
Retired Gen. Sarath Fonseka has signed nomination papers to contest a seat …. Read the original article  : Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief Fonseka to lead new opposition coalition at parliamentary elections.

Nebraska bill seeks to ban most late-term abortions based on argument that fetuses feel pain

Neb. lawmakers to discuss fetal pain abortion bill

OMAHA, Neb. – A group of lawmakers is pushing to make Nebraska the first state to outlaw most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the argument that the fetus might feel pain during the procedure.
The legislators are seeking to ban all late-term abortions except when the …. Read the original article  : Nebraska bill seeks to ban most late-term abortions based on argument that fetuses feel pain.

Report: Germany’s Merkel says euro in difficult situation but will come through

Merkel: euro in difficult situation for 1st time

BERLIN – The euro is in a difficult situation for the first time since its launch, but the 16-nation currency will come through, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in an interview published Thursday.
The euro, introduced in 1999, has suffered in recent weeks from worries over the ability of …. Source article  : Report: Germany’s Merkel says euro in difficult situation but will come through.

Question hour yet to be held in parliament budget session

NEW DELHI – Parliament has been in session for four days but question hour, which kicks off the proceedings, is yet to be held.

On the first day, the question hour was not held because of President Pratibha Patil’s address to a joint session of the two houses.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, question hour … Original source on Gaea Times at : Question hour yet to be held in parliament budget session.

PM to inaugurate new Tamil Nadu assembly complex March 13

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the new Tamil Nadu assembly complex in Chennai next month, DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan said Thursday.
“The prime minister will inaugurate the new complex March 13. The budget session of the Tamil Nadu assembly is likely to be held in the new complex,” the parliamentarian … Original article on : PM to inaugurate new Tamil Nadu assembly complex March 13.

Seeking thaw, India and Pakistan discuss terror, Kashmir (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met here Thursday, the first such formal engagement since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, amid hopes that Islamabad will move faster against anti-India terror outfits and the 26/11 attackers to keep the dialogue open.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao greeted her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir at …. Original article  : Seeking thaw, India and Pakistan discuss terror, Kashmir (Second Lead).

Viktor Yanukovych, foe of the Orange Revolution, inaugurated as Ukraine’s president

Viktor Yanukovych inaugurated as Ukraine president

KIEV, Ukraine – Viktor Yanukovych has been inaugurated as Ukraine’s president, five years after his first bid failed amid massive protests over vote fraud.
Yanukovych took the oath of office Thursday morning in the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament that has been the scene of intense maneuvering by his rival Yulia …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Viktor Yanukovych, foe of the Orange Revolution, inaugurated as Ukraine’s president.

‘China may build up N-capability to counter US missile shield’

MOSCOW – China may strengthen its nuclear capability in response to the US global missile defence plans, said a Russian military expert.

“At present, China has a very limited nuclear potential, but my recent contacts with Chinese military representatives indicate that if the United States deploys a global missile defence system, in particular in the Far …. Original article  : ‘China may build up N-capability to counter US missile shield’.

Report: E-Verify has difficulty spotting illegal workers who use fraudulent identities

Report: E-Verify misses half of illegal workers

WASHINGTON – The system Congress and the Obama administration want employers to use to help curb illegal immigration is failing to catch more than half the number of unauthorized workers it checks, a research company has found.
The online tool E-Verify, now used voluntarily by employers, wrongly clears illegal workers … Read more »».

Ideal candidate in 2010? An outsider, or an ex-insider who says he’s an outsider

Outsider image so hot even ex-insiders want it
NEW YORK – Ask national Republicans to name a model 2010 congressional candidate, and they’re likely to mention Stephen Fincher. A 37-year-old farmer and gospel singer from Frog Jump, Tenn., Fincher has raised more than $675,000 in his bid to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. John Tanner.
His … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ideal candidate in 2010? An outsider, or an ex-insider who says he’s an outsider.

Planning final push to pass Obama’s bill, Democrats look beyond televised session with GOP

Live from Washington: Obama’s health care summit
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies are pleading their case for health care overhaul in an extraordinary summit with Republicans, broadcast live to a divided public on daytime TV.
But Democrats are already looking beyond Thursday’s meeting at historic Blair House. With GOP … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Planning final push to pass Obama’s bill, Democrats look beyond televised session with GOP.

Stalin, Maran meet Prakash Karat

NEW DELHI – DMK leaders M.K. Stalin and Dayanidhi Maran Thursday met Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat here, informed sources said.
Details of the meeting were not known. The CPI-M had severed ties with the DMK in Tamil Nadu before the Lok Sabha election last year and allied with the …. Read the original article  : Stalin, Maran meet Prakash Karat.

Indo-Pak talks a ‘political risk’ for Manmohan Singh: Analysts

NEW YORK – As India and Pakistan return to the dialogue table after a 14 month long hiatus on February 25, analysts believe resuming deliberations with Islamabad after the Mumbai terror attacks has become a personal priority and a political risk for the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
A large part of the … Read more : Indo-Pak talks a ‘political risk’ for Manmohan Singh: Analysts.

Brown’s ‘you ruined my life’ shout led to Blair’s exit: Book

LONDON – In a showdown with his predecessor Tony Blair, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown repeatedly shouted “you ruined my life,” and the episode led to Blair’s departure from 10 Downing Street, according to an upcoming book.

Later, Blair described the encounter as “ghastly” and “terrible”, The Times quoted from leaked extracts of Andrew Rawnsley’s new …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Brown’s ‘you ruined my life’ shout led to Blair’s exit: Book.

Brown told Blair ‘You ruined my life’: Book

LONDON – Gordon Brown subjected Tony Blair to ill-tempered and expletives-laden tirades – claiming Blair had ruined his life – in a fierce bid for British premiership in the months leading up to Blair’s resignation, says a controversial new book.

Brown, who became premier in June 2007 following a protracted power struggle, repeatedly shouted at … Original article on : Brown told Blair ‘You ruined my life’: Book.

India, Pakistan begin talks: Terror, Kashmir on agenda

NEW DELHI – India and Pakistan Thursday began their first official talks since the Mumbai attack 14 months ago amid cautious optimism here that Islamabad will move faster against anti-India terror outfits and 26/11 attackers to keep the dialogue open.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao greeted her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir at the Hyderabad House as … Read more >>>.

Pawar smiles as Sushma slams government on prices

NEW DELHI – The new leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, Thursday launched a scathing attack on the government for its failure to curb food inflation but Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar seemed unperturbed, smiling throughout the speech.
Let him (Pawar) smile. Don’t look at his smile. Just look at the …. Source article  : Pawar smiles as Sushma slams government on prices.