Vote counting underway in Togo’s 2nd presidential election held since death of dictator

Vote counting begins in Togo presidential election

LOME, Togo – Vote counting has begun in Togo’s second presidential election held since the death of the country’s military dictator.
Journalists saw electoral workers begin counting votes early Friday. The electoral commission began receiving vote tallies late Thursday after polls closed. Votes will be counted in each precinct before … Read more : Vote counting underway in Togo’s 2nd presidential election held since death of dictator.

In UK’s Iraq inquiry, Gordon Brown faces questions on spending cuts and missing equipment

UK’s Brown to face questions over Iraq war

LONDON – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was scheduled to testify Friday to the country’s inquiry on mistakes made over the Iraq war, a potentially embarrassing session before a looming national election.
Brown, who served as Treasury chief from 1997 to 2007 and approved military spending, will give around … Read this article on Gaea Times at : In UK’s Iraq inquiry, Gordon Brown faces questions on spending cuts and missing equipment.

Sailors complain of abuse from their commander, captain relieved of her command

Navy vessels stage drag-race, probe shows
WASHINGTON – A Navy captain was demoted because she berated and assaulted her crew, not because she led her guided missile cruiser on a drag-race with another U.S. warship in the Pacific, an investigation shows.

Capt. Holly Graf was relieved of her command of the cruiser USS Cowpens after an investigation … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Sailors complain of abuse from their commander, captain relieved of her command.

Latest upheavals in New York politics shake a state that’s used to seeing rough play

New York politics rocked by upheavals
NEW YORK – The Empire State has a lot to recommend it – Broadway shows, Niagara Falls, and baseball’s World Series champions, the New York Yankees. But politics? As the locals would say, Fuhgeddaboudit.
Colorful, ethnic, tribal, the New York political scene is much like the Big Apple itself, …. Read the original article  : Latest upheavals in New York politics shake a state that’s used to seeing rough play.

Sailors tell of race between 2 warships on the Pacific, Navy strips captain of her command

US ships race each other on open sea, probe shows

WASHINGTON – The Navy says two warships raced each other for fun out on the Pacific Ocean, but it could not prove that the activity endangered the vessels.
A Navy inspector general report says four witnesses described the race off of Okinawa between the guided missile cruiser …. Source  : Sailors tell of race between 2 warships on the Pacific, Navy strips captain of her command.

House panel resolution brands WWI-era killing of Armenians a genocide; Turkey pulls ambassador

Armenian genocide resolution wins House panel OK
WASHINGTON – Turkey was warning of a breakdown in cooperation with the United States after a congressional committee approved a resolution branding the World War I-era killing of Armenians a genocide.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the resolution, which Turkey sees as a historical affront, …. Source article  : House panel resolution brands WWI-era killing of Armenians a genocide; Turkey pulls ambassador.

Iraqis living abroad begin three-day voting to elect new parliament

Iraqis begin to vote in Syria and other countries

DAMASCUS, Syria – Iraqis living abroad began casting ballots in their homeland’s crucial parliamentary elections Friday, the second for a full parliamentary term since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion ousted Saddam Hussein.
Hundreds stood in lines at stations in Syria, home to the largest Iraqi expatriate community, and voting … Original article on : Iraqis living abroad begin three-day voting to elect new parliament.

PM condoles loss of life in Chilean earthquake, pledges five million dollars towards relief

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has condoled the loss of life in the earth quake that hit Chile on the 27th Feb 2010.
In a letter to President Dr. Michelle Bachelet of Chile, the Prime Minister conveyed his sympathy over the loss of life and damage to property … Original article on : PM condoles loss of life in Chilean earthquake, pledges five million dollars towards relief.

Manmohan Singh not in tune with Sonia Gandhi over RTI

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has reportedly disagreed with Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
As per news channels, Dr Singh is in favour of excluding the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from falling under the ambit of the RTI Act, whereas Sonia … Original source on Gaea Times at : Manmohan Singh not in tune with Sonia Gandhi over RTI.

Manmohan Singh to reply to debate on ‘Motion of Thanks’

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will reply to the debate on the ‘Motion of Thanks’ to President Pratibha Patil for her address in both houses of Parliament today.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal on Thursday said, “Dr Singh will reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Manmohan Singh to reply to debate on ‘Motion of Thanks’.

Don’t jump to conclusions about Indian boy’s death: Rudd, Brumby

MELBOURNE – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Victorian Premier John Brumby have urged people not to jump to conclusions over the death of three-year-old Indian boy Gurshan Singh Kaurchanna in Melbourne.

Gurshan’s body was found dumped by the side of a road in Melbourne’s suburbs six hours after he disappeared from a relative’s home in …. Read the original article  : Don’t jump to conclusions about Indian boy’s death: Rudd, Brumby.

Influential NYC black leaders say Gov. Paterson should stay in office amid scandals

NYC black leaders: Paterson should stay in office
NEW YORK – Influential black leaders in New York City said Thursday night that they believe Gov. David Paterson should stay in office amid allegations he and his staff interfered in a domestic violence case involving a top governor’s aide.
Meeting in a Harlem soul food restaurant … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Influential NYC black leaders say Gov. Paterson should stay in office amid scandals.

No scheduled meeting between Gilani, Dr. Singh in Washington : Pak FO

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is unlikely to meet his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh in Washington, where they are scheduled to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on April 12 and 13.
Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Abdul Basit said he is unaware of any such meeting between the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : No scheduled meeting between Gilani, Dr. Singh in Washington : Pak FO.

Influential NYC black leaders believe Gov. Paterson should stay in office amid scandals

Black leaders believe NY gov should stay in office
NEW YORK – Influential black leaders in New York City said Thursday night that they believe Gov. David Paterson should stay in office amid allegations he and his staff interfered in a domestic violence case involving a top governor’s aide.
Meeting in a Harlem soul food … Read more »»».

UN envoy says Haiti should hold presidential elections despite earthquake’s ravages

UN envoy: Haiti should hold presidential election

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haitians must proceed with their presidential election this year despite the burden of earthquake damage, the top United Nations official in the country said Thursday.
Acting U.N. mission chief Edmond Mulet told The Associated Press that Haiti cannot afford constitutional “slippage” as it rebuilds from the Jan. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : UN envoy says Haiti should hold presidential elections despite earthquake’s ravages.

Venezuelan high court reinstates opposition mayor _ after panel annulled his election

Venezuelan court reinstates anti-Chavez mayor

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s highest court has reinstated an opposition mayor, just one week after it annulled his election and replaced him with a supporter of President Hugo Chavez.
The decision came from justices on the Supreme Court’s constitutional council – the tribunal’s highest authority.
They overturned a ruling handed down by the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Venezuelan high court reinstates opposition mayor _ after panel annulled his election.

Mexican gov’t official fired for painting teen’s buttocks as punishment for graffiti tagging

Mexican official fired for painting teen’s bottom

MEXICO CITY – A mayor in central Mexico says he has fired one of his town officials for spray-painting the buttocks of a teenage boy as punishment for graffiti tagging.
The mayor of San Juan del Rio in Queretaro state says police caught the 13-year-old tagging a wall last week …. Source article  : Mexican gov’t official fired for painting teen’s buttocks as punishment for graffiti tagging.

The short life and quick death of Radar Online’s rumor that Chief Justice Roberts is quitting

A Roberts rumor’s blip on Washington’s radar

WASHINGTON – For a short time, Washington buzzed over a rumor reported exclusively by an online gossip Web site with no particular Supreme Court expertise that Chief Justice John Roberts was considering stepping down.
He is not resigning, as even the Radar Online site quickly concluded Thursday in backing away … Read more : The short life and quick death of Radar Online’s rumor that Chief Justice Roberts is quitting.

Army chief of staff sees ‘anxiety’ on how ban on openly gay personnel would be lifted

Army chief sees ‘anxiety’ on lifting ban on gays
FORT CARSON, Colo. – Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey said Thursday he sees anxiety in the armed services over how possible changes in the law that bans openly gay servicemen and women would be implemented.
The military must look hard at … Original article on : Army chief of staff sees ‘anxiety’ on how ban on openly gay personnel would be lifted.

House Roll Call: How the House voted on jobs bill

House Roll Call: How the House voted on jobs bill

The 217-201 roll call Thursday by which the House passed legislation giving companies that hire the unemployed a temporary payroll tax break.
A “yes” vote is a vote to pass the bill.
Voting yes were 211 Democrats and 6 Republicans.
Voting no were 35 Democrats and 166 Republicans.
X denotes …. Read the original article  : House Roll Call: How the House voted on jobs bill.