Officials: Fighting erupts between Taliban, other militants in Afghanistan; at least 50 dead

Taliban, other militants battle in Afghan province

KABUL – Gunbattles between the Taliban and another Islamist faction have left at least 50 fighters dead in northeastern Afghanistan, as militants apparently fought over control of several villages where the government has almost no presence, officials said Sunday.
Fierce clashes were continuing Sunday, with militants using heavy machine guns … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Officials: Fighting erupts between Taliban, other militants in Afghanistan; at least 50 dead.

China issues another warning against Hong Kong democracy campaign

China warns again against Hong Kong democracy push

HONG KONG – China has warned that a plan by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong to use a special election as a de facto referendum on democratic reform is a threat to stability in the former British colony.
While Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997, it maintains [..] Read the original article: here.

Officials: Fighting erupts between Taliban, rival militants in Afghanistan; at least 50 dead

Taliban, rival militants battle in Afghan province

KABUL – Gunbattles between the Taliban and another Islamist faction have killed at least 50 people in northeastern Afghanistan, officials said Sunday. The militants are apparently fighting for control of several villages where the central government has almost no presence.
The fighting was continuing Sunday, with militants using heavy machine … Read more >>>.

Congress accuses Uttarakhand Govt of corruption in power project

DEHEADUN – Members of the Congress party staged a sit-in demonstration on Saturday against the Bharatiya Jananta Party-ruled Uttarakhand Government, accusing it of corruption in the sanction of hydel projects.

Hundreds of activists, including party workers and legislators, assembled at a park to stage the demonstration, demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) …. Source  : Congress accuses Uttarakhand Govt of corruption in power project.

Philippine marines kill 7 suspected al-Qaida-linked militants in coastal attack

Philippine marines kill 7 suspected militants

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine marines have killed at least seven al-Qaida-linked militants in an attack on a coastal hide-out, but they failed to capture a Malaysian terror suspect long wanted by Washington.
Regional military commander Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrerro says Malaysian militant Zulkifli bin Hir may have escaped with other Abu …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Iraqi police: Mortar fire kills 3 as Iraqis vote in key national elections

Iraqi police: Mortars kill 3 as nation votes

BAGHDAD – Iraqi police say mortar fire has killed three people in northeastern Baghdad.
A police official says two mortar shells fell in the Ur neighborhood, also wounding five people.
The death toll was confirmed by hospital officials. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not …. Read the original article  : Iraqi police: Mortar fire kills 3 as Iraqis vote in key national elections.

RNC Chairman Steele says GOP should focus on jobs, education instead of scare tactics

RNC Chairman Steele: GOP should focus on issues
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says the GOP should focus on issues like jobs and education and not on scare tactics.
Steele made the remarks to reporters before he gave a speech Saturday at a Shelby County, Tenn., Republican Party fundraiser. Steele says …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : RNC Chairman Steele says GOP should focus on jobs, education instead of scare tactics.

Iraqis head to polls for historic ballot determining who will lead country as US goes home

Iraqi voters head to polls for historic ballot

BAGHDAD – Under a blanket of tight security designed to thwart insurgent attacks, Iraqis went to the polls Sunday in an election testing the ability of the country’s still-fragile democracy to move forward amid uncertainty over a looming U.S. troop drawdown and still jagged sectarian divisions.
Almost 20 million …. Source  : Iraqis head to polls for historic ballot determining who will lead country as US goes home.

Polls open in Iraq’s parliamentary election, winner will oversee US drawdown

Polls open in Iraq’s parliamentary election

BAGHDAD – Polls are open across Iraq in a historic election that will help determine whether the country can move beyond sectarian strife and who will oversee the country as U.S. troops go home.
About 6,200 candidates are competing for 325 seats in the new parliament.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is fighting … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Polls open in Iraq’s parliamentary election, winner will oversee US drawdown.

China says US has to improve ties in wake of Taiwan arms sales, Obama meeting with Dalai Lama

China says it’s up to the US to improve relations
BEIJING – China said Sunday that it is up to the United States to improve relations that soured over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and a meeting between President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama.
Despite the tough line, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : China says US has to improve ties in wake of Taiwan arms sales, Obama meeting with Dalai Lama.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown headlines campaign rally in Tucson for John McCain

McCain brings Scott Brown to Tucson for rally
TUCSON, Ariz. – Amid criticism that he’s too moderate, Sen. John McCain on Saturday said the Arizona GOP Senate primary should be about fixing the economy, not political ideology.
“My focus is on jobs and the economy, and jobs and jobs and jobs,” McCain said.
He spoke at …. Read the original article  : Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown headlines campaign rally in Tucson for John McCain.

Dictator’s son wins Togo vote, extending family’s rule into 44th year

Dictator’s son winner of Togo election
LOME, Togo – Togo’s election commission on Saturday declared the son of the country’s late dictator winner of the presidential race, extending the family’s rule into a fifth decade in a deep blow to Togo’s opposition, which vowed to take to the streets in protest.

Provisional results indicate President Faure Gnassingbe … Original article on : Dictator’s son wins Togo vote, extending family’s rule into 44th year.

UNAMID says 2 peacekeepers missing in South Darfur after gunmen ambush patrol

2 Darfur peacekeepers missing after ambush

CAIRO – Two international peacekeepers have gone missing in south Darfur along with half a dozen vehicles and equipment after an ambush on their patrol, the U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission in the region said Saturday.
UNAMID said in a statement that a large group of gunmen attacked the peacekeepers’ convoy Friday …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : UNAMID says 2 peacekeepers missing in South Darfur after gunmen ambush patrol.

Federal appeals court ruling in case of gay Air Force major creates dilemma for Pentagon

Ruling on gay Air Force major creates dilemma

SEATTLE – A pressing legal reality for the “don’t ask, don’t tell” standard for gays serving in the military is that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already struck down the way it’s practiced in much of the Western United States.
The 2008 ruling, while largely overlooked, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Federal appeals court ruling in case of gay Air Force major creates dilemma for Pentagon.

Election commission president says Gnassingbe Togo election winner, family has ruled 43 years

Gnassingbe declared presidential winner in Togo

LOME, Togo – The president of Togo’s election commission has declared the son of the late dictator winner of the presidential race with 60.9 percent of the vote.
Issifou Tabio says provisional results show that Faure Gnassingbe won 1.2 million votes of the 2 million votes cast. Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre … Original source on Gaea Times at : Election commission president says Gnassingbe Togo election winner, family has ruled 43 years.

Provisional results say Gnassinge wins in Togo, would extend family rule nearly 50 years

Provisional results: Gnassingbe wins in Togo

LOME, Togo – Provisional results turned in to Togo’s election commission indicate that the son of the country’s late dictator has won the presidential election by a large margin.
The results presented orally district by district show that President Faure Gnassingbe received over 1.2 million votes. Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre received …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A look at this Sunday’s parliamentary election in Iraq

A look at this Sunday’s election in Iraq
Some basic information about Iraq’s parliamentary elections on Sunday:

- Registered voters: About 19 million.
- Polling places: About 10,000 centers containing 52,000 actual voting booths.
- Candidates: More than 6,200.
- Voting Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Size of new parliament: 325 seats
- Size of previous parliament: 275 seats
- Mandatory … Read more : A look at this Sunday’s parliamentary election in Iraq.

Togolese police fire tear gas on opposition protesters upset over election polls

Togolese police fire tear gas on election protests

LOME, Togo – A Togolese police spokesman says officers have fired tear gas on some 200 protesters angry that the opposition party is trailing in the hotly contested presidential election.
Abalo Assih says the protesters led by opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre marched on the main square of the capital … Read more >>>.

Rick Perry in 2012? No so fast, the Texas governor first has to win a tough race in November

Texas Gov. Perry must win in Nov. before 2012 talk
AUSTIN, Texas – Before Rick Perry can parlay his tea party-powered victory in the Texas governor’s primary into something bigger – a 2012 Republican presidential ticket, perhaps – he’ll have to actually win a record-setting, third four-year term.
Doing that will require …. Source article  : Rick Perry in 2012? No so fast, the Texas governor first has to win a tough race in November.

Israeli defense minister meets with US Middle East envoy to discuss new peace talks

Israeli officials meet with US Mideast envoy

JERUSALEM – Israel says its defense minister is to meet with the U.S. Middle East envoy to discuss indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations that are expected to start soon.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that Ehud Barak was meeting with U.S. envoy George Mitchell on Saturday evening.
Mitchell also is …. Original source  : Israeli defense minister meets with US Middle East envoy to discuss new peace talks.