Belgian vote on burqa ban in doubt as government risks collapse

BRUSSELS – A parliamentary vote that would have turned Belgium into the first European country to ban the wearing of the burqa and other types of Islamic veil risked being cancelled Thursday, as the country’s government was nearing collapse.

The lower house of parliament was expected to approve a law making it a crime to be …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Belgian vote on burqa ban in doubt as government risks collapse.

N-liability bill has nothing to do with India-US deal: government

NEW DELHI – The government Thursday refuted charges that the civil nuclear liability bill was being introduced in parliament under international pressure and said the legislation had been under consideration since 1998 and had nothing to do with the India-US nuclear deal signed in 2008.

The bill was in line with international best practices and would … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : N-liability bill has nothing to do with India-US deal: government.

Uproar in Lok Sabha over Alagiri’s absence

NEW DELHI – The opposition parties caused disruption in the Lok Sabha Thursday as Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M.K. Alagiri failed to show up during question hour.
The uproar began when Speaker Meira Kumar invited Alagiri’s deputy Srikant Jena to answer a listed question by Kachchadia Naranbhai.
“The honourable minister is missing,” … Original source on Gaea Times at : Uproar in Lok Sabha over Alagiri’s absence.

Security alert as Nepal asks Maoists to stop military training

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s embattled government put security forces on alert Thursday and asked the opposition Maoist party to stop giving military training to its cadre nationwide ahead of a looming constitutional crisis.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has been fighting an insistent demand by the former guerrillas for his resignation to avert a crisis next … Original source on Gaea Times at : Security alert as Nepal asks Maoists to stop military training.

Anxiety-torn NATO to tackle Afghanistan, Bosnia, own future at meetings in Estonia

Troubled NATO attempts to solve thorny issues

TALLINN, Estonia – NATO foreign ministers are arriving in Estonia for talks aimed at reviving commitments to Afghanistan and at resolving thorny internal issues.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who landed early Thursday, will spearhead the discussions on an American nuclear “umbrella” for Europe and the alliance’s core … Original article on : Anxiety-torn NATO to tackle Afghanistan, Bosnia, own future at meetings in Estonia.

Keeping up pressure for financial overhaul, Obama urging lawmakers to give him a bill quickly

Obama keeps up pressure for financial overhaul
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is heading to the place where the economic meltdown began to argue for stronger government oversight of the finance industry and urge Congress to finish a regulatory bill quickly.
In a speech Thursday at New York’s Cooper Union college, near Wall Street, Obama … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Keeping up pressure for financial overhaul, Obama urging lawmakers to give him a bill quickly.

BJP chief says sorry to Delhiites for traffic disruption

NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari has apologised to Delhiites for the inconvenience caused to them during Wednesday’s protest against the price rise that led to traffic jams across the city.

In a statement released here, Gadkari said: “I personally … Read more »».

Tamil Nadu lawmakers for probe into Nalini having a phone in jail

CHENNAI – Tamil Nadu lawmakers have demanded a thorough probe into the reported seizure of a mobile phone from the cell of Nalini Sriharan, accused in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“She has violated the Jail Manual rules after she was …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Aides: Israeli PM rejects Obama’s demand for total east Jerusalem construction halt

Israel to US: No building halt in east Jerusalem
JERUSALEM – Aides say Israel’s prime minister has officially rejected President Barack Obama’s demand that Israel suspend all construction in east Jerusalem.
They say Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his response to Obama over the weekend. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the contacts between …. Original source  : Aides: Israeli PM rejects Obama’s demand for total east Jerusalem construction halt.

Report: Iran begins war games in the Persian Gulf, strategic Strait of Hormuz

Iran begins war games in Gulf, Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard on Thursday started large-scale war games in the Persian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz, state television reported.
Iran has been holding military maneuvers in the gulf and the Strait of Hormuz annually since 2006 to show off …. Read the original article  : Report: Iran begins war games in the Persian Gulf, strategic Strait of Hormuz.

No international pressure on nuclear liability bill: government

NEW DELHI – The government Thursday refuted charges that the civil nuclear liability bill was being introduced under pressure from the US and said the legislation had been under consideration since 1998 and had nothing to do with the India-US nuclear deal signed in 2008.

“I refute the charges of international pressure,” Minister of State in … Read more »»».

Malik, Awan accused of direct involvement in Bhutto’s murder

ISLAMABAD – Slain Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s chief protocol officer Aslam Chaudhry’s legal advisor, Asad Rajput, has blamed Interior Minister Rehman Malik and law and parliamentary affairs minister Babar Awan of being directly involved in the former premier’s assassination.

Talking to media persons …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Malik, Awan accused of direct involvement in Bhutto’s murder.

Russia marks 140th anniversary of Lenin’s birth

Moscow, April 22 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia Thursday marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin, the first head of the Soviet state.

Lenin (Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov) was born in the provincial city of Simbirsk (now Ulyanovsk) April 22, 1870, to a family of a secondary-school teacher.
In 1887, soon after the …. Original article  : Russia marks 140th anniversary of Lenin’s birth.

Clinton in Estonia for NATO talks focusing on Afghanistan, nuclear policy, missile defense

Clinton in Estonia for NATO meetings
TALLINN, Estonia – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has arrived in the Baltic state of Estonia for a meeting of NATO ministers to discuss Afghanistan and other issues.

She arrived slightly later than scheduled after the Iceland volcano’s ash cloud shifted toward Estonia while she was en route from …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Clinton in Estonia for NATO talks focusing on Afghanistan, nuclear policy, missile defense.

‘Red Shirts’ will alter Thailand’s political landscape, but protesters’ true color yet unknown

Red Shirt protests change Thai political landscape

BANGKOK – An ex-Communist guerrilla, a one-time teen idol and a militant known as “Rambo” spearhead a surging peasant movement that claims to espouse democracy but pledges allegiance to a billionaire accused of gutting Thailand’s democratic institutions.
Something doesn’t seem to check out here.
Such strange bedfellows and mixed messages make …. Original source  : ‘Red Shirts’ will alter Thailand’s political landscape, but protesters’ true color yet unknown.

Mexican lawmakers approve creation of space agency

Mexico City, April 22 (IANS/EFE) The lower house of Mexico’s Congress has voted to approve the creation of the Mexican Space Agency, or AEXA, which will be in charge of developing the country’s space policy.

The agency will promote space research studies, the development of space technologies and the training of specialists.
The agency’s creation was … Read more : Mexican lawmakers approve creation of space agency.

Appeals court in NY blocks ruling that found Congress was wrong to stop ACORN funding

Court in NY gives government victory against ACORN

NEW YORK – A federal appeals court on Wednesday handed the government a victory by temporarily blocking a judge’s finding that Congress was wrong to halt federal funding to the activist group ACORN.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan also agreed to expedite the government’s appeal …. Source article  : Appeals court in NY blocks ruling that found Congress was wrong to stop ACORN funding.

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate, 4/21/10

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:
Craig Becker, of Illinois, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2014, vice Dennis P. Walsh, to which position he was appointed during the last recess of the Senate.

Jacqueline A. Berrien, of New York, to be a Member of … Read more »».

Remarks by National Security Advisor James L. Jones at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Michael Stein Address, Soref Symposium
25th Anniversary Soref Gala
Thank you all very much.  Thank you, Martin Gross, for your very kind introduction, and for your leadership as the Institute’s new president.  You have 25 years of Institute history to live up to…and 25 years of Institute presidents watching to make sure you get it right.

Thank you …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Remarks by National Security Advisor James L. Jones at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Presidential Proclamation – Earth Day

A PROCLAMATION
In the fall of 1969, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson announced plans for a national "environmental teach-in" — one day, each year, of action and advocacy for the environment. His words rallied our Nation, and the first Earth Day, as it became known, saw millions come together to meet one of the greatest challenges of …. Original article  : Presidential Proclamation — Earth Day.