Mayawati challenges Income Tax probe with another currency garland

LUCKNOW – Despite being criticised over the currency garland controversy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Wednesday defied the authorities by appearing again with a second currency garland.

Sources said the garland was presented to Mayawati by her supporters and is worth Rs 18 lakhs.
A BSP legislator said, “The money … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Mayawati challenges Income Tax probe with another currency garland.

Baba Ramdev To Join Politics

NEW DELHI, India (GaeaTimes.com)- On Tuesday, the yoga Guru Baba Ramdev has declared in front of the media that he is planning to come forward with his own political party. Baba Ramdev claimed that there are many loop holes in the political system that needs to be filled in and corrected. The suggested new party … Read more : Baba Ramdev To Join Politics.

Attorney says judges postpone court-martial against Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief

Sri Lanka postpones court-martial against Fonseka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Judges presiding over the court-martial of Sri Lanka’s former army chief indefinitely postponed a hearing into one of two allegations against him Wednesday, a defense attorney said.
Sarath Fonseka, who led Sri Lanka to victory in its decades-long civil war but then fell out of favor after … Read more : Attorney says judges postpone court-martial against Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief.

Obama celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Irish, Northern Irish leaders

Obama, Irish leaders celebrate St. Patrick’s

WASHINGTON – Ireland’s Prime Minister Brian Cowen is looking to boost his flagging political fortunes in a St. Patrick’s Day meeting with President Barack Obama.
The annual White House event is a mix of lighthearted cheer and serious politics. Cowen comes to the party weighed down by the massive budget cuts …. Read the original article  : Obama celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Irish, Northern Irish leaders.

Senate parliamentarian is rock star during Senate fight over Obama’s health care overhaul

Parliamentarian is rock star in health care debate
WASHINGTON – When Congress battles over thorny bills, parliamentarian Alan Frumin has been known to sleep in his office – on call 24/7 as the Senate’s Solomon, divining the answers.
Frumin’s ability to review long-standing rules and centuries of precedent to resolve Senate questions makes … Read more >>.

Afghan official: Would-be suicide attackers killed in southern town close to NATO offensive

1 wounded as attackers hit southern Afghan town

KABUL – Would-be suicide attackers targeted the offices of a charity in a southern Afghanistan city Wednesday morning but were killed by security guards before they could detonate their explosives-laden vests, an official said.
One foreign employee was wounded in the attack on the office of International Relief and …. Read the original article  : Afghan official: Would-be suicide attackers killed in southern town close to NATO offensive.

Chaturvedi axed as Congress spokesperson over comments on Pawar

NEW DELHI – Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi has been removed as party spokesperson over his alleged comments on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (NCP) chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Chaturvedi reportedly used ‘uncivilised language’ during an interview to a news channel two days back while criticising Pawar on the issue of price rise.
All India Congress …. Read the original article  : here.

Mayawati calls emergency party meeting over currency garland controversy

LUCKNOW – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati will preside over an emergency meeting of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Wednesday to discuss the currency garland controversy involving her.

All BSP lawmakers have been informed about the meeting and have been asked to attend.
Mayawati was severely criticized both inside and outside Parliament as the currency garland …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mayawati calls emergency party meeting over currency garland controversy.

Dalai Lama to address ‘curtains down’ of ‘Thank India’ programme

KANGRA – The Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Samdhong Rinpoche, has said that the Dalai Lama will address the ‘curtains down’ of ‘Thank India’ programme to express gratitude to India that will be preceded by a congregation of inter-faith prayers named ‘Sarva Dharma Sammelan’ for three days.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Rinpoche said: … Read more : Dalai Lama to address ‘curtains down’ of ‘Thank India’ programme.

Koirala to be discharged from hospital today

KATHMANDU – Doctors looking after former Nepal Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala today said his condition is improving and he will be discharged from hospital this evening.

According to them, the oxygen level in his blood has increased.
Koirala was rushed to the Sahid Gangalal Heart Centre in Bansbari on Sunday evening after …. Original article  : Koirala to be discharged from hospital today.

Attorney says judges postpone court martial against Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief

Sri Lanka postpones court martial against Fonseka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – An attorney says judges in a court martial against Sri Lanka’s defeated presidential candidate have indefinitely postponed hearing a second charge against the ex-army chief.
Nuwan Bopage says that the three army officers on the bench postponed the hearing Wednesday and will ask President Mahinda Rajapaksa … Read more : Attorney says judges postpone court martial against Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief.

Hawaii measure would allow state to ignore repeated requests for Obama’s birth certificate

Hawaii considering law to ignore Obama ‘birthers’
HONOLULU – Birthers beware: Hawaii may start ignoring your repeated requests for proof that President Barack Obama was born here.
As the state continues to receive e-mails seeking Obama’s birth certificate, the state House Judiciary Committee heard a bill Tuesday permitting government officials to ignore people who … Read more >>.

Thai protesters hurl own blood at PM’s house after targeting government headquarters

Thai protesters hurl own blood at PM’s house

BANGKOK – Red-shirted protesters hurled plastic bags filled with their own blood into the residential compound of Thailand’s prime minister Wednesday, hoping their shock tactics will bring down his government.
Several thousand later gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy, saying they wanted to tell the international community that …. Original article  : Thai protesters hurl own blood at PM’s house after targeting government headquarters.

Colorado’s political parties see caucus rebellion as process for choosing candidates begins

Colo.’s political parties see caucus rebellion
DENVER – Disgruntled Colorado voters in both major parties rejected political insiders in straw poll results at caucuses around the state that exposed deep unease with candidates seen as favored by Washington party bigwigs.
Tuesday’s Republican and Democratic informal precinct meetings caucuses were just the first step for party … Original source on Gaea Times at : Colorado’s political parties see caucus rebellion as process for choosing candidates begins.

EBay spends $415,000 in 4th quarter, lobbying on anti-counterfeiting

EBay spent $415,000 on lobbying in 4Q
WASHINGTON – Online auction site operator eBay Inc. spent $415,000 during the fourth quarter to lobby the federal government on anti-counterfeiting measures and other issues, according to a disclosure report.

That was an increase of nearly 9 percent from the $382,500 eBay spent in the same quarter a year earlier, … Read more »»».

Thai protesters to pour own blood at PM’s house after targeting government headquarters

Thai protesters to pour own blood at PM’s house

BANGKOK – Thai protesters seeking a change of government planned more shock tactics Wednesday, saying they would pour containers of their own blood at the prime minister’s house in the capital.
Police in riot gear, however, blocked all approaches to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s residence in the Sukhumvit …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Thai protesters to pour own blood at PM’s house after targeting government headquarters.

Hospital: Ohioan who championed by Obama doesn’t have to choose between her home, her health

Clinic: Woman championed by Obama eligible for aid

CLEVELAND – A woman championed as the Obama administration’s emblem for health care reform does not have to choose between her home and her health, according to officials at the Ohio hospital where she is being treated.
With a self-reported annual income of about $6,000, Natoma Canfield is a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Hospital: Ohioan who championed by Obama doesn’t have to choose between her home, her health.

Calif. judge allows genetically engineered beet harvest; amounts to half nation’s sugar supply

Judge allows genetically engineered beet harvest

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge says farmers can harvest and sell their genetically engineered sugar beets this year.
Nearly all sugar beets planted are genetically engineered and the crop accounts for half the nation’s sugar supply.
U.S. District Court Jeffrey White last year ruled federal regulators improperly granted approval of the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Calif. judge allows genetically engineered beet harvest; amounts to half nation’s sugar supply.

US gov’t finds medical equipment not properly cleaned at some Puerto Rico veterans clinics

Report: Equipment at PR veterans clinics not clean

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Federal inspectors found medical equipment not properly cleaned or inspected at some of the clinics for veterans in Puerto Rico, a U.S. government report said Tuesday.
Senior staff knew about the problem but did nothing to assess the risk to patients, added the report … Read more »»».

Health Secretary Sebelius says she’s confident health care bill will get enough votes to pass

Sebelius confident health care bill will pass
CHICAGO – U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (seh-BEEL’-yuhs) says she’s confident the House will have the votes to pass President Barack Obama’s health care legislation – possibly by Friday.
Sebelius spoke Tuesday in Chicago at a conference on aging.
Her remarks come as the White House makes a final … Read more »»».