Official: Leading blocs in Iraqi parliamentary elections will have margin of only 1 or 2 seats

Iraq: top electoral blocs separated by slim margin

BAGHDAD – The head of Iraq’s election commission says the leading blocs in the country’s parliamentary race are separated by a slim one or two seat margin.
Independent High Electoral Commission chief Faraj al-Haidari also told The Associated Press on Thursday that vote tallying is complete and the commission …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Government yet to move on women’s bill talks

NEW DELHI – The government is yet to initiate discussions with “all concerned” on the women’s reservation bill, cleared by the Rajya Sabha and slated to be presented in the Lok Sabha when parliament resumes April 15 after a three-week break.
“I have no idea,” a minister told IANS Thursday when asked about the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Rahul to visit Amethi Friday

LUCKNOW – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will Friday embark on a two-day visit of his parliamentary constituency Amethi, a party spokesperson said Thursday.

“Rahulji will review the progress of developmental projects funded by the central government in Amethi,” Akhilesh Pratap Singh told reporters here.
“He will participate in the district vigilance committee meeting with the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Rahul to visit Amethi Friday.

Assam opposition divided before Rajya Sabha polls

GUWAHATI – The ruling Congress in Assam has kept the opposition on tenterhooks over Friday’s Rajya Sabha polls, with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) suspending a legislator who has vowed to vote against the party-backed candidate.

The AGP late Wednesday suspended Abdul Aziz on charges of anti-party activities after he made a public statement that he … Original source on Gaea Times at : Assam opposition divided before Rajya Sabha polls.

Babri mosque demolition: IPS officer Gupta to appear in Rae Bareilly court

RAE BAREILLY – Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Anju Gupta, who is on deputation with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Delhi might record her testimony as a witness for the prosecution against senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani and other Sangh Parivar leaders in a Rae Bareilly court on … Original article on : Babri mosque demolition: IPS officer Gupta to appear in Rae Bareilly court.

Democrats deal with broken windows, obscene threats over support for health care overhaul

Dems deal with threats over health care support
Democratic Congress members are getting lessons from the FBI on how to handle threats such as several directed at their colleagues, including bricks hurled through windows and menacing obscenity-laced phone messages left for those who supported sweeping federal health care legislation.
Windows were shattered at four Democratic … Read more »».

Looking to end claims backlog, VA considers replacing mountains of files with paperless system

VA tests system for electronic disability claims

BALTIMORE – If the backlog of veterans’ disability claims ever has a chance of being eliminated, there’s one key step: going paperless.
But how to get rid of the volumes of paperwork in exchange for a fully electronic system is the quandary, and one Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki wants …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Looking to end claims backlog, VA considers replacing mountains of files with paperless system.

Pak took up issue of India’s ‘intrusion’ in Afghanistan with US : Gilani

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Islamabad has taken up the issue of India’s ‘intrusion’ in Afghanistan with both New Delhi and the United States.

Addressing the Senate, Gilani said he had a detailed meeting with US National Security Adviser General. James Jones over India’s expanding presence in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has been …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pak took up issue of India’s ‘intrusion’ in Afghanistan with US : Gilani.

US encourages India-Pakistan talks, rules out mediation

WASHINGTON – Ruling out a mediatory role between India and Pakistan, the US has said that while it welcomed a dialogue between the two South Asian nations, including on the issue of Kashmir, the modalities were for them to decide.
“Well, we’ve always welcomed dialogue and better relations between India and Pakistan, including on … Read : US encourages India-Pakistan talks, rules out mediation.

Closure appears near for unusual collision of abortion, immigration politics in Nebraska

Immigration concerns trump abortion worry in Neb.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Opposition to taxpayer benefits for illegal immigrants appears to have trumped anti-abortion sentiments in Nebraska, likely ending an unusual collision of the two explosive political issues.
After meeting with Gov. Dave Heineman on Wednesday night, a lawmaker said the governor opposed a compromise that would continue providing …. Source article  : Closure appears near for unusual collision of abortion, immigration politics in Nebraska.

Pakistan makes no headway with US on n-deal, Kashmir

WASHINGTON – Pakistan appeared to have found little encouragement from the US as it raised two of its pet peeves – an India-type civil nuclear deal and mediation on Kashmir – at their first strategic dialogue here.
The very first question that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fielded at the end of the …. Read the original article  : Pakistan makes no headway with US on n-deal, Kashmir.

Gates to order top-level review for gays discharged from military over ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

Discharging gays to draw more scrutiny in military
WASHINGTON – Discharging a gay person for violating the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy will draw unprecedented scrutiny under new orders from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is already pushing to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military.
Guidelines to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Black Ohio woman who saw Barack Obama’s inauguration from her wheelchair dies at 106

Ohio woman who saw Obama inauguration dies at 106
CLEVELAND – A black woman who attended Barack Obama’s inauguration in her wheelchair shortly after her 105th birthday has died.
Former social worker Ella Mae Johnson made the journey to Washington, D.C., with her nurse in January 2009 and watched as the nation’s first black president …. Source article  : Black Ohio woman who saw Barack Obama’s inauguration from her wheelchair dies at 106.

Gen. Petraeus in New Hampshire: ‘I will not ever run for political office’

Petraeus denies political side to NH trip
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, took the stage Wednesday where presidential candidates have debated but said his visit had nothing to do with politics or New Hampshire, home to the first presidential primaries.

Petraeus has been talked about as a potential … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Gen. Petraeus in New Hampshire: ‘I will not ever run for political office’.

Miami federal judge lifts stay blocking former Panama dictator Noriega’s extradition to France

Judge lifts stay blocking Noriega’s extradition

MIAMI – A Miami federal judge has lifted a stay blocking former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega from being extradited to France.
U.S. District Judge Paul Huck issued the order Wednesday, two days after the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not reconsider Noriega’s request to stop his extradition to France on … Original source on Gaea Times at : Miami federal judge lifts stay blocking former Panama dictator Noriega’s extradition to France.

Democrats who voted for the health care overhaul targeted with threats, bricks through windows

Hurled bricks, threats surround health overhaul
Unrest over sweeping federal health care legislation has turned to vandalism and threats, with bricks hurled through Democrats’ windows, a propane line cut at the home of a congressman’s brother and menacing phone messages left for lawmakers who supported the bill.
The FBI is investigating the instances, which include …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

French sex workers protest proposal to legalize brothels, say they want independence

French sex workers protest legal brothels
PARIS – Dozens of French sex workers proclaiming themselves proud to be prostitutes marched Wednesday to protest a lawmaker’s proposal to legalize brothels in France, arguing that such a law would deny them the freedom to work on their own.

A lawmaker in France’s governing party has proposed reopening brothels just …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : French sex workers protest proposal to legalize brothels, say they want independence.

Bigger hospitals do better job at treating heart problems, pneumonia, study suggests

Bigger hospitals may treat some conditions better

LOS ANGELES – People hospitalized with a heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia fare better if they are admitted someplace that treats a lot of those problems, a large study of Medicare patients finds.
Busier hospitals on average tended to have lower rates of death from these three common conditions … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Bigger hospitals do better job at treating heart problems, pneumonia, study suggests.

Judge’s bold intervention in 9/11 health case raises eyebrows, draws praise and criticism

Judge’s action in 9/11 health case raises eyebrows

NEW YORK – Experts say a federal judge pushed the limits of his legal authority when he rejected a settlement that would have paid at least $575 million to thousands of people who fell ill after working in the toxic ash of the World Trade Center.
Legal scholars are … Read more : Judge’s bold intervention in 9/11 health case raises eyebrows, draws praise and criticism.

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate, 3/24/10

Mark A. Griffon, of New Hampshire, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of five years, vice Carolyn W. Merritt, term expired.

Rafael Moure-Eraso, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of five years, vice Gary Lee Visscher, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate, 3/24/10.