Nepal PM consulting leaders of Madhes-based parties

KATHMANDU – Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has been in consultation with leaders of the Madhes based parties to defend the efforts of the Unified CPN (Maoist) to topple his government.

According to the PM’s press advisor Bishnu Rijal, Nepal will hold separate meetings with Madheshi Janadhikar …. Read the original article  : here.

Even in states where it’s legal, Veterans Affairs doctors can’t prescribe medical marijuana

VA doctors prohibited from prescribing medical pot

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When Paul Culkin came home to New Mexico after serving with an Army bomb squad in Iraq, he tried counseling and medications offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cope with his post traumatic stress disorder.
Nothing worked very well. Then he found a new alternative: … Read more >>.

Sonia Gandhi meets officials in Rae Bareli

RAE BARELI – Congress president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday met officials in her Lok Sabha constituency Rae Bareli and discussed development issues, a party spokesman said.
Gandhi met the Rae Bareli district vigilance and monitoring committee to review the implementation of the central government-sponsored projects, Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh said.
The meeting took place …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sonia Gandhi arrives in Rae Bareli

LUCKNOW – Congress president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday arrived in her parliamentary constituency Rae Bareli and met senior officials to review the developmental projects in the Uttar Pradesh district, a party official said.
“Soniaji is presiding over the Rae Bareli district vigilance and monitoring committee to review the central government-sponsored development projects,” Congress spokesperson Akhilesh … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sonia Gandhi arrives in Rae Bareli.

Save paper, optimise printing, ‘babus’ told

NEW DELHI – Indian bureaucracy, slow to change, finally seems to be waking up to the concerns of the environment and the costs of unthinking wastage of paper and other precious office resources.

A circular issued by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), an important wing of the agriculture ministry, speaks about the spiralling environmental … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Save paper, optimise printing, ‘babus’ told.

Only four Kerala ministers use Ambassador cars

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The Ambassador car, India’s traditional official vehicle, remains favoured by only four Kerala ministers, including Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan — though less than four years ago, the full 19-member cabinet publicy flaunted their red-beaconed white Ambassadors.

In May 2006 when the cabinet took office, TV channels showed 19 gleaming … Read : Only four Kerala ministers use Ambassador cars.

San Jose City Council members vote to draft ordinance regulating medical marijuana collectives

San Jose votes to pursue medical pot regulations

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose City Council on Tuesday approved drawing up guidelines for the operation of medical marijuana collectives as a way to regulate the businesses and possibly bring in much-needed revenue to the nation’s 10th largest city.
After more than two hours of debate, city … Read more : San Jose City Council members vote to draft ordinance regulating medical marijuana collectives.

Obama backs closer India-US ties

WASHINGTON – Expressing satisfaction at the conclusion of an India-US agreement on reprocessing spent fuel, the White House has said President Barack Obama is glad that US is strengthening a very close bilateral relationship in an important region.
“Well, obviously the President is a proponent of the agreement between the two countries,” White House …. Original source  : Obama backs closer India-US ties.

Serbia lawmakers pass declaration condemning 1995 Srebrenica massacre

Serbia offers apology for Srebrenica massacre

BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbia’s parliament approved a declaration Tuesday condemning the 1995 Serb massacre of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica, in a bid to distance the country from past warmongering under the late strongman Slobodan Milosevic.
The declaration passed with a slim majority of 127 votes in the 250-seat parliament, after a …. Read the original article  : Serbia lawmakers pass declaration condemning 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

India, US ties proposed against cyber terrorism

WASHINGTON – India has suggested close partnership with the US in cyber security, particularly against cyber terrorism, as the two countries take their economic and technological collaboration to the next level.

Indian Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot made the suggestion in talks with senior officials at the White House and in …. Read the original article  : here.

Lead plaintiff in Indian suit says tribal members must urge Congress to sign off on settlement

Indian suit plaintiff: Settlement a stepping stone

TOPPENISH, Wash. – American Indians must urge Congress to quickly sign off on a $3.4 billion settlement of a lawsuit against the federal government for swindling them out of royalties for oil, gas, grazing and other leases, the lead plaintiff said Tuesday.
“We’ve won some really huge victory. Will it … Original source on Gaea Times at : Lead plaintiff in Indian suit says tribal members must urge Congress to sign off on settlement.

Obama wants Iran sanctions within ‘weeks’

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama declared that he wants to see the UN Security Council adopt sanctions against Iran within “weeks” over the Islamic republic’s refusal to resolve the dispute over its nuclear activities.
“I’m not interested in waiting months for a sanctions regime to be in place. I’m interested in seeing that …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Obama wants Iran sanctions within ‘weeks’.

Tennessee businessman sues Tea Party Nation leader, claims he was shut out of Palin event

Tenn. businessman sues Tea Party Nation leader
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Tennessee businessman who helped finance Sarah Palin’s appearance at the National Tea Party Convention last month has sued one of the event’s organizers, claiming he was libeled in an e-mail and shut out of the speech.
Bill Hemrick, who helped found the baseball trading …. Original article  : Tennessee businessman sues Tea Party Nation leader, claims he was shut out of Palin event.

Preservationists ask judge to stop 2 hospital projects in historic New Orleans neighborhood

Judge asked to stop New Orleans hospital projects

NEW ORLEANS – Preservationists say the construction of two hospitals to replace ones damaged by Hurricane Katrina would wipe out a historic New Orleans neighborhood, and they want a federal judge to block the projects.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Tuesday asked U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon …. Read the original article  : here.

GOP lawmaker in Georgia wants to impeach Democratic AG for refusing to sue on health care

Ga. lawmaker wants to impeach AG over health care

ATLANTA – A Georgia lawmaker on Tuesday filed a resolution to impeach Democratic Attorney General Thurbert Baker for refusing to join 14 other states in suing the federal government over health care reform.
The resolution from Republican state Rep. Mark Hatfield claims Thurbert Baker has “abdicated his authority … Original source on Gaea Times at : GOP lawmaker in Georgia wants to impeach Democratic AG for refusing to sue on health care.

Honeywell raises 1st-qtr profit view, expects $13M charge related to health care bill

Honeywell raises 1Q forecast, but sees $13M charge
MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Honeywell International Inc. increased its first-quarter earnings outlook Tuesday and said it will log a $13 million non-cash charge in relation to the recent health care overhaul legislation.
The manufacturing conglomerate now expects a profit of 45 cents to 49 cents per share … Read more >>>.

Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 3/30/2010

2:18 P.M. EDT
Q    Sarkozy get here early?
MR. GIBBS:  Oooh, all right.  Bonjour, Chuck.  I was going to say, I don’t know –

Q    I was going to ask a question in French.
MR. GIBBS:  Well, he probably won’t give you an answer.
I have no announcements, so we can fire away.
Q    That’s a segue to my question.
MR. GIBBS:  … Read more »».

Obama calls for sanctions on Iran over nuclear program in weeks, and French president agrees

Obama, Sarkozy push for UN sanctions on Iran
WASHINGTON – With the president of France at his side, President Barack Obama declared Tuesday he hopes to have international sanctions against Iran in place “within weeks,” not months, because of its continuing nuclear program. But he acknowledged he still lacks full support.
“Do we …. Original source  : Obama calls for sanctions on Iran over nuclear program in weeks, and French president agrees.

Iraqi PM uses legal maneuvers to hold on to power despite risks of sectarian warfare

Iraqi PM fights to hold power, risks sectarian war

BAGHDAD – Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s postelection strategy suggests he is prepared for a long and bitter fight to hold on to power, even if it alienates the country’s Sunni community and risks new sectarian warfare.
The Iraqi leader is trying all sorts of legal maneuvers to deny … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Iraqi PM uses legal maneuvers to hold on to power despite risks of sectarian warfare.

Postal Service asks regulators for opinion on dropping Saturday delivery

Post office seeks opinion on Saturday delivery

WASHINGTON – The Postal Service may have provided a clue why it is losing money when it asked regulators – by e-mail – for an opinion on dropping Saturday delivery service.
Plagued by loss of mail business to the Internet, the post office was required to send its request to … Original article on : Postal Service asks regulators for opinion on dropping Saturday delivery.