Togo opposition followers march in 4th day of rising tensions since disputed presidential vote

Togo protesters march over disputed election

LOME, Togo – Riot police fired tear gas at more than 1,000 opposition protesters who gathered in the capital Tuesday, the fourth day of rising tensions since the son of the former dictator was announced victorious in a disputed presidential election.
Tuesday’s march was banned by the government but top opposition …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Togo opposition followers march in 4th day of rising tensions since disputed presidential vote.

Iran says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Afghanistan on Wednesday

Iranian president to visit Afghanistan
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s announcement coincided with a visit to Kandahar by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates has accused Tehran of “playing a double game” in Afghanistan by trying to woo the Afghan government and undermining U.S. and NATO efforts by …. Source  : Iran says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Gates praises troops in hard-hit battle unit in southern Afghanistan

Gates praises troops in southern Afghanistan

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FRONTENAC, Afghanistan – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a hard-hit battle unit Tuesday that its heavy losses have helped the U.S. begin to push back against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.
Gates visited a small, remote outpost 30 miles north of Kandahar, where the Fort Lewis, Washington-based … Read more »»».

Gates meets with troops fighting Taliban in southern Afghanistan

Gates meets with troops in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates got a closer view of the Afghanistan war Tuesday, with a visit to troops fighting the Taliban in the country’s rugged south.
Gates flew to Kandahar early Tuesday for meetings with U.S. and British generals overseeing the current military campaign in Marjah.
Gates … Read : Gates meets with troops fighting Taliban in southern Afghanistan.

Mass. human rights doctors group faults Bangladesh on treatment of Burmese refugees

Mass. rights group faults Bangladesh on refugees

BOSTON – Tens of thousands of Burmese refugees are being forced into makeshift camps in Bangladesh and face widespread starvation unless they receive more humanitarian aid, according to an international human rights organization’s report released Tuesday.
The Physicians for Human Rights, based in Massachusetts, faulted Bangladesh authorities for “arbitrary arrests, …. Read the original article  : Mass. human rights doctors group faults Bangladesh on treatment of Burmese refugees.

CAPITAL CULTURE: Palin straddles increasingly blurred worlds of politics, media, celebrity

CAPITAL CULTURE: Palin candidate, pundit, celeb?
NEW YORK – For more than a year, Sarah Palin has been one of the most famous political and cultural figures in the country. Even by that standard, though, last week was an extraordinary one.
On Thursday came word that the former Alaska governor was working on a TV …. Source  : CAPITAL CULTURE: Palin straddles increasingly blurred worlds of politics, media, celebrity.

PM to meet Lalu, Mulayam, Sharad over Women Reservation Bill

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will meet Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav today over the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Meanwhile, the reported all-party meet is unlikely to be held today.
The decision …. Source article  : PM to meet Lalu, Mulayam, Sharad over Women Reservation Bill.

Stupak, D-Mich., voices new optimism about resolving abortion dispute in health bill debate

Stupak: Health bill abortion fight can be resolved
TAWAS CITY, Mich. – Prospects are good for resolving a dispute over abortion that has led some House Democrats to threaten to withhold support of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, a key Michigan Democrat said Monday.
Rep. Bart Stupak said he expects to resume talks with … Read more >>.

Pennsylvania Democrats pick ex-Murtha aide Mark Critz as nominee for special election

Pa. Dems pick Critz as nominee to fill Murtha seat

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania Democrats have chosen former congressional aide Mark Critz as the nominee for a special election to fill the U.S. House seat once held by late Rep. John Murtha.
Party officials cite Critz’s weekend victory in a nonbinding straw poll by local party members. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pennsylvania Democrats pick ex-Murtha aide Mark Critz as nominee for special election.

Suburban NY mayor says ‘SNL’ got her city wrong _ it’s not a hellhole, and it’s not upstate

Suburban NY mayor says ‘SNL’ got her city wrong

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. – A suburban New York mayor wants to correct the record after “Saturday Night Live” made fun of her city.
First, Peekskill isn’t upstate. Second, it’s not a hellhole.
The city of 24,000 residents was mentioned on the NBC comedy show Feb. 27. An actor playing Gov. … Read more >>>.

Tenn. federal judge refuses to throw out lawsuits by patients claiming jaw damage

Tenn. federal judge won’t dismiss jaw injury cases

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A federal judge in Nashville has refused to dismiss 40 lawsuits against a Swedish-based pharmaceutical company accused of failing to warn patients that two of its drugs can cause severe deterioration of the jaw.
U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell’s ruling last week is the latest blow … Read more »».

How did the little movie best the huge one? Theories on how ‘Hurt Locker’ beat ‘Avatar’

Oscar’s big question: How did David slay Goliath?

NEW YORK – For Hollywood pundits, industry folk and Oscar fans still paying attention on Monday, a major question remained: How did David slay Goliath?
For as much as “The Hurt Locker” was the critics’ darling, it had three major strikes against it in its battle against the mighty …. Source  : How did the little movie best the huge one? Theories on how ‘Hurt Locker’ beat ‘Avatar’.

Remarks by the President and the First Lady at International Women’s Day Reception

4:52 P.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you so much.  So I get to speak first while he stands and watches.  I love this.  (Laughter.)  Look at me adoringly.  (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT:  I can do that.
MRS. OBAMA:  With sincerity.  (Laughter.)  Anyway.
I’m thrilled to see everybody here.  Welcome, welcome.  This is a wonderful event as we celebrate … Read more : Remarks by the President and the First Lady at International Women’s Day Reception.

Massa says health care conspiracy by House Democrats is the reason behind his resignation

Massa blames his resignation on health care debate

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – New York Rep. Eric Massa is blaming his resignation on a conspiracy by House Democratic leaders to force him out before a crucial vote on health care.
Massa was one of 39 Democrats who voted against an earlier House version of the health care bill in …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Massa says health care conspiracy by House Democrats is the reason behind his resignation.

Group Friends of Animals calls for tourism boycott of Alaska over wolf decision

Animal rights’ group urges Alaska tourism boycott

JUNEAU, Alaska – An animal rights’ group is calling for a tourism boycott of Alaska over a recent decision to remove buffer zones for wolf trapping near Denali National Park.
Friends of Animals’ President Priscilla Feral says last week’s decision by a divided Alaska Board of Game lacked any sense …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Group Friends of Animals calls for tourism boycott of Alaska over wolf decision.

President Obama Announces Another Key Administration Post, 3/8/10

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key administration post:
Philip D. Moeller, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key administration post:
Philip D. Moeller, Nominee for Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Commissioner Philip D. Moeller was …. Original article  : President Obama Announces Another Key Administration Post, 3/8/10.

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate, 3/8/10

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:
Major General Robert A. Harding, United States Army (Retired), of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, vice Edmund S. Hawley, resigned.

David K. Mineta, of California, to be Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy, vice Bertha K. Madras.
… Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate, 3/8/10.

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 3/8/10

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:
Cheryl A. LaFleur, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Lawrence J. Pijeaux, Jr., Member, National Museum and Library Sciences Board
President Obama said, “I am grateful that these distinguished individuals have chosen to join my administration as we work … Read more »».

Remarks by President Obama and President Funes of El Salvador after Meeting

Oval Office
3:56 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Hello, everybody.  I want to welcome President Funes and the First Lady of El Salvador to the United States.  Bienvenido.  We are very grateful and honored by his visit.  I’ve been following the President since his election nine months ago and have been very favorably impressed by the steps that … Read : Remarks by President Obama and President Funes of El Salvador after Meeting.

AP Source: Health care legislation to include new provision affecting part-time workers

AP Source: Health bill to affect part-time workers
WASHINGTON – A Democratic aide says a new provision in the health care bill will require businesses to count part-time workers when calculating penalties for failing to provide coverage.
The bill originally passed by the Senate only penalized businesses for full-time workers who weren’t covered. The Senate … Read more >>>.