Tharoor’s fate hinges on PM; party not in mood to defend him

NEW DELHI – The Congress feels that if a united opposition forces Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to defend Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor in parliament over the Indian Premier League (IPL) row, it would be a further embarrassment for the party and the government, party sources said Saturday.
“The party is …. Read the original article  : Tharoor’s fate hinges on PM; party not in mood to defend him.

PML-N calls for murder proceedings against Musharraf over Bhutto’s assassination

ISLAMABAD – Following the UN enquiry commission’s report over former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, which held the then Musharraf regime responsible for the killing, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has once again raised the demand for the former general’s trial.

PML-N spokesperson Parvaiz Rashid said the UN report has made … Read : PML-N calls for murder proceedings against Musharraf over Bhutto’s assassination.

Mayawati expels Mukhtar Ansari from BSP

LUCKNOW – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has expelled criminal-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and his brother Afzal Ansari from the party.

A press release issued on Friday by the party said that the decision to expel …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Another Indian joins Malaysian by-poll fray

KUALA LUMPUR – V.S. Chandran, a businessman of Indian origin, Saturday joined the fray for a Malaysian parliamentary by-poll, raising fears of division of the

the ethnic Indian vote.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhiyddin Yassin said Chandran’s entry was no problem for the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and the ruling alliance Barisan Nasional (BN) that aims … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Another Indian joins Malaysian by-poll fray.

Gordon Brown’s neighbour has had enough of him

LONDON – Gordon Brown has been upstaged by a neighbour who has erected a large Tory sign – “Vote for change” – next to the prime minister’s home in a village.

Sixtyfive-year-old Ian Watt began the campaign just yards from Brown’s doorstep in North Queensferry, Fife, The Sun reported Saturday.
“I’m fed up with a Labour …. Read the original article  : Gordon Brown’s neighbour has had enough of him.

India for holistic approach to post-conflict peace-building

UNITED NATIONS – Advocating a holistic approach to “post-conflict peace-building”, India has suggested consultations with major troop and police contributing countries in formulating and revising mandates of the UN missions.

“Security is a key pillar for peace-building,” Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India, said addressing the UN Security Council Friday. “It is equally important to … Read more : India for holistic approach to post-conflict peace-building.

Former congressman Eric Massa wrote $40,00 check to top aide shortly before his resignaton

Massa gave $40,000 to aide before resigning

WASHINGTON – Former New York Rep. Eric Massa wrote a $40,000 check to his chief of staff shortly before resigning his seat last month amid sexual harassment allegations. The aide is among those pursuing complaints against the Democrat.
Federal campaign finance records describe the March 4 check to Joe Racalto … Read more : Former congressman Eric Massa wrote $40,00 check to top aide shortly before his resignaton.

India opposes sanctions against Iran at BRIC, IBSA summits

BRASILIA – India opposed a drive by western countries to impose new sanctions against Iran at the recently concluded IBSA and BRIC summits here.

There was a free exchange of views on Iran, where the Indian prime minister opposed sanctions and advocated dialogue to resolve the Iranian issue, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told journalists …. Source  : India opposes sanctions against Iran at BRIC, IBSA summits.

Locked-out Rio Tinto Borax miners rally at British consulate in Los Angeles

Locked-out miners rally at British consulate in LA

LOS ANGELES – Mojave Desert borate miners have rallied with hundreds of supporters outside the British Consulate in Los Angeles to protest a lockout by the mine’s Anglo-Australian owner.
Workers from the Rio Tinto Borax mine in tiny Boron were joined by other organized labor groups at the demonstration … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Locked-out Rio Tinto Borax miners rally at British consulate in Los Angeles.

Daryl Gates, polarizing police chief during 1992 Los Angeles riot, dies at 83

Gates, LA’s police chief during 1992 riot, dies

LOS ANGELES – Daryl F. Gates, the blunt former Los Angeles police chief who waged war on violent gangs and skirmished with city leaders until his handling of the Rodney King police beating and ensuing riots forced him to retire, died Friday of cancer. He was 83.
Gates died …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Daryl Gates, polarizing police chief during 1992 Los Angeles riot, dies at 83.

Arizona governor signs bill allowing concealed weapons without permit; joins Alaska, Vermont

Arizona to allow concealed weapons without permit

PHOENIX – Favoring the constitutional right to bear arms over others’ concerns about gun safety, Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed into law a bill making Arizona the third state allowing people to carry a concealed weapon without requiring a permit.
The measure takes effect 90 days after the current … Read : Arizona governor signs bill allowing concealed weapons without permit; joins Alaska, Vermont.

Arizona governor signs bill allowing concealed weapons without permit

Arizona to allow concealed guns without permit

PHOENIX – Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law a bill making Arizona the third state to not require a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
Brewer’s office says she signed the bill Friday. It takes effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends, probably putting the effective date …. Original article  : Arizona governor signs bill allowing concealed weapons without permit.

Former Rep. Massa’s chief of staff alleges he was sexually harassed by lawmaker

Ex-congressman’s top aide files harass complaint

WASHINGTON – Former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa’s chief of staff has filed a sexual harassment complaint against the 50-year-old New York lawmaker.
Joe Racalto’s attorney Camilla McKinney said Friday the complaint was filed March 23. Such complaints are handled by the Office of Compliance, an independent agency. Citing confidentiality, she declined … Read more : Former Rep. Massa’s chief of staff alleges he was sexually harassed by lawmaker.

Islamic charity demands $612K from feds after judge rules US eavesdropped without warrant

Islamic charity in Calif. wiretap case wants $612K

SAN FRANCISCO – Lawyers for a now-defunct Islamic charity want more than $600,000 in damages from the federal government after a judge ruled that officials illegally wiretapped the charity’s phone calls.
Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker found that the Terrorist Surveillance Program authorized by President George …. Source  : Islamic charity demands $612K from feds after judge rules US eavesdropped without warrant.

Remarks by the President at a Meeting with the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board

Roosevelt Room
1:38 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  All right — don’t break anything.  (Laughter.)  You guys all set?  All right.

Well, thank you all for coming.  We have a few topics to discuss today and I’m eager to hear from all of you about how the economy looks from your perspective and your forecast for the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Remarks by the President at a Meeting with the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board.

President Obama Signs Pennsylvania Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and ordered Federal aid to supplement the Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe winter storms and snowstorms during the period of February 5-11, 2010.

Federal funding is available to the Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private … Original source on Gaea Times at : President Obama Signs Pennsylvania Disaster Declaration.

Presidential Proclamation???National Park Week

NATIONAL PARK WEEK, 2010
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION
As a Nation, we have a responsibility to protect America’s natural resources and noteworthy landmarks. During National Park Week, we celebrate the diversity, beauty, and history found in our National Park System.
For nearly 100 years, the American people have entrusted the National Park … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Presidential Proclamation–National Park Week.

Amid heated rhetoric, Clinton says words matter, alludes to Oklahoma City bombing

Bill Clinton: Words really matter
WASHINGTON – Former President Bill Clinton warned of a slippery slope from angry anti-government rhetoric to violence like the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, saying “the words we use really do matter.”
The two-term Democratic president insisted he wasn’t trying to restrict free speech, but in remarks Friday he said incendiary …. Original source  : Amid heated rhetoric, Clinton says words matter, alludes to Oklahoma City bombing.

Judge: Ohio inmate didn’t offer medical evidence that execution poses anesthesia allergy risk

Judge: No allergy risk proven for Ohio execution

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An inmate scheduled to die next week for raping and strangling a 16-year-old girl has failed to present enough evidence of an allergy to anesthesia that could affect the execution, a federal judge ruled Friday.
Condemned killer Darryl Durr waited too long to raise the issue …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Judge: Ohio inmate didn’t offer medical evidence that execution poses anesthesia allergy risk.

ACLU lawyer asks NY appeals court to restore overseas wiretap lawsuit; government says no need

NYC appeals court hears challenge to wiretap law

NEW YORK – A civil rights lawyer asked a federal appeals court Friday to restore a lawsuit challenging a law that lets the United States eavesdrop on overseas conversations. A government lawyer disagreed, saying a lower court got it right.
The verbal tug-of-war proceeded before a three-judge panel of … Read : ACLU lawyer asks NY appeals court to restore overseas wiretap lawsuit; government says no need.