President Obama speaks Monday on health care reform and women’s achievements

Obama to push health care reform, honor women
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama wades back into the health care debate as he travels to Philadelphia to discuss his overhaul plans.
When he returns later Monday to Washington, Obama will take time out to congratulate Alabama’s Bowl Championship Series national champion football team, which went undefeated …. Original article  : President Obama speaks Monday on health care reform and women’s achievements.

More than 200 killed after religious violence flares again in central Nigeria; Hundreds flee

Nigeria: More than 200 dead in religious violence

JOS, Nigeria – Rioters armed with machetes slaughtered more than 200 people including a 4-day-old infant, residents said, less than two months after sectarian violence in the volatile region left more than 300 dead.
The violence in three mostly Christian villages Sunday appeared to be reprisal attacks following the …. Read the original article  : More than 200 killed after religious violence flares again in central Nigeria; Hundreds flee.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Afghanistan as NATO carries out counterinsurgency plan

Gates in Afghanistan; meets with military leaders
KABUL – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan early Monday as coalition forces continue to restore order in the town of Marjah, the first major test of the U.S. and NATO counterinsurgency strategy since President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 new American troops to blunt the … Read more : Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Afghanistan as NATO carries out counterinsurgency plan.

Head of Iraq election commission says results to historic vote expected in days

Iraq election commision head says results in days
BAGHDAD – The results of Iraq’s pivotal parliamentary elections will be released within days, the head of the country’s election commission said Monday.
The announcement came a day after Iraqis defied a wave of insurgent attacks and voted in key balloting that will determine whether they can … Original source on Gaea Times at : Head of Iraq election commission says results to historic vote expected in days.

PM meets Congress leaders, discusses floor strategy for Women’s Bill passage

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, is attending a Congress party meeting to formulate the floor strategy for ensuring the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which has been held up for more than a decade.
The meeting is taking …. Original article  : PM meets Congress leaders, discusses floor strategy for Women’s Bill passage.

Women’s Reservation Bill: SP, RJD withdraw support to UPA Govt

NEW DELHI – The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday decided to withdraw support to the UPA Government over the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Strongly opposing the Bill, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav announced their decision … Original article on : Women’s Reservation Bill: SP, RJD withdraw support to UPA Govt.

Racy paintings of Sarah Brown, Samantha Cameron to go on public display

LONDON – Controversial paintings depicting the wives of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Leader of the Opposition David Cameron in a raunchy pose are set to go on public display in Glasgow.

Artist Laetitia Guilbaud is said to have courted trouble after drawing … Read more : Racy paintings of Sarah Brown, Samantha Cameron to go on public display.

China to equalize city-rural representation in legislature as urbanization gathers pace

China looks to narrow city-rural development gap
BEIJING – China is boosting representation for its dwindling rural population in the national legislature as part of a new push to narrow the development gap between city and countryside.
Once an overwhelmingly rural society, China is urbanizing at an accelerating rate, with 43 percent, or 560 million …. Original article  : China to equalize city-rural representation in legislature as urbanization gathers pace.

Scouting for Hitler: Secret papers show Britain feared teenage Nazi ’spyclists’ before WWII

MI5 papers show Britain feared Nazi ’spyclists’

LONDON – Clouds of war were gathering over Europe, and the English police officer was concerned. A group of black-clad Germans had been spotted heading for London – by bicycle.
Newly declassified British intelligence files reveal the ripples of alarm that spread through the country as Hitler Youth cyclists toured … Original article on : Scouting for Hitler: Secret papers show Britain feared teenage Nazi ’spyclists’ before WWII.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates lands in Afghanistan as NATO carries out counterinsurgency plan

US defense chief lands in Afghanistan for meetings
KABUL – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan early Monday as coalition forces continue to restore order in the town of Marjah, the first major test of the U.S. and NATO counterinsurgency strategy since President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 new … Read more : Defense Secretary Robert Gates lands in Afghanistan as NATO carries out counterinsurgency plan.

Oregon state treasurer, former lawmaker Ben Westlund dies at 60 after battle with lung cancer

Oregon state treasurer Westlund dies at 60

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon state treasurer Ben Westlund, who helped stabilize the Oregon college savings plan after one of its managers posted big losses, has died after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 60.
Westlund served 12 years in the Oregon Legislature, first as a Republican and then … Original source on Gaea Times at : Oregon state treasurer, former lawmaker Ben Westlund dies at 60 after battle with lung cancer.

‘Precious’ co-star Mo’Nique, ‘Basterds’ co-star Waltz win supporting-acting Oscars

Mo’Nique, Waltz win supporting-acting Oscars

LOS ANGELES – Villainous roles have snatched the supporting-acting prizes at the Academy Awards: “Precious” co-star Mo’Nique as a loathsome mother and “Inglourious Basterds” co-star Christoph Waltz as a sociable Nazi fiend.
With the industry’s top trophy in hand, both performers capped remarkable years, Mo’Nique startling fans with dramatic depths previously unsuspected …. Original article  : ‘Precious’ co-star Mo’Nique, ‘Basterds’ co-star Waltz win supporting-acting Oscars.

Waltz’s gleefully evil Nazi in ‘Inglourious Basterds’ wins supporting actor Oscar

Waltz goes from Hollywood unknown to Oscar winner

LOS ANGELES – Christoph Waltz was a veteran TV and stage actor in Europe who was virtually unknown in Hollywood. Then he met Quentin Tarantino.
Waltz, 53, was honored as best supporting actor at Sunday’s Academy Awards for his portrayal of a World War II Nazi with a gleeful … Original article on : Waltz’s gleefully evil Nazi in ‘Inglourious Basterds’ wins supporting actor Oscar.

‘Inglourious Basterds’ co-star Waltz wins supporting-actor Oscar

‘Basterds’ star Waltz wins supporting-actor Oscar

LOS ANGELES – Christoph Waltz won the supporting-actor Academy Award on Sunday for his role as a sociable fiend of a Nazi in “Inglourious Basterds,” while the blockbuster “Up” was named best animated feature.
The first award of Oscar night went to Austrian-born Waltz, a veteran stage and television actor in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Inglourious Basterds’ co-star Waltz wins supporting-actor Oscar.

Graham says he’ll press his GOP colleagues to back Guantanamo closing if Obama backs tribunals

GOP senator urges Obama to shift on terror trials
WASHINGTON – A Republican senator is offering the White House a deal on terror trials.
Sen. Lindsey Graham says that if the president agrees to try alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed (HAH’-leed shayk moh-HAH’-med) and four accused henchmen in military tribunals, he will press … Original source on Gaea Times at : Graham says he’ll press his GOP colleagues to back Guantanamo closing if Obama backs tribunals.

Elders of town just seized from Taliban give Afghan president an earful on corruption, NATO

Karzai gets an earful in town seized from Taliban
MARJAH, Afghanistan – Elders in a former Taliban stronghold berated and challenged Afghanistan’s president Sunday, delivering a litany of complaints about government corruption and NATO’s military operations on the Afghan leader’s first visit to Marjah.
President Hamid Karzai said that’s …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Dozens killed in clashes between Taliban, another Islamist militia; fighters defect to gov’t

Afghan militants battle Taliban, defect to gov’t

KABUL – Dozens of fighters died in armed clashes between the Taliban and another Islamist group in northeastern Afghanistan, and some militants defected to Afghan government forces Sunday as battles raged, officials said.
Fighters for the Hezb-e-Islami militia, loyal to regional warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, battled the Taliban with rocket-propelled grenades … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dozens killed in clashes between Taliban, another Islamist militia; fighters defect to gov’t.

Deve Gowda heads farmers to Delhi rally

BANGALORE – Hundreds of farmers from Karnataka under the leadership of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda boarded the train to New Delhi from Bangalore city railway station on Sunday evening.
Deve Gowda has organised a two-day protest rally in the national capital starting from Wednesday against the land acquisition for the Bangalore-Mysore …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Deve Gowda heads farmers to Delhi rally.

BSP opposes Women Reservation Bill seeking quota within quota for SC/ST

LUCKNOW – Bahujan Samaj Party on Sunday evening opposed the Women Reservation Bill in its present form by seeking inclusion of quota for Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe women in it.
“Bill must be amended to include SC/ST women’s quota in itf the Bill is amended to include our demands, we will vote for it. …. Source article  : BSP opposes Women Reservation Bill seeking quota within quota for SC/ST.

Top Senate Republican says GOP’s fundraising appeal based on fear of Obama is not helpful

McConnell doesn’t like GOP pitch based on fear
WASHINGTON – The Senate’s top Republican says he didn’t like a recent GOP appeal to party donors that was based on stoking fear and negative feelings toward President Barack Obama and other Democrats.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says he doesn’t understand why anyone thought …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Top Senate Republican says GOP’s fundraising appeal based on fear of Obama is not helpful.