Alagiri absence now rocks Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI – A day after the issue disrupted the Lok Sabha, the absence of Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M.K. Alagiri rocked the Rajya Sabha Friday when he failed to show up during question hour.
So vociferous were the protests led by V. Maitreyan and other AIADMK members that Chairman Hamid Ansari even threatened …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Ousted president of Kyrgyzstan vows not to return home as president but says hasn’t resigned

Ousted Kyrgyz president won’t go back
MINSK, Belarus – The ousted leader of Kyrgyzstan has said from exile in Belarus that he does not intend to return to his homeland as president – but insists a resignation he signed has not come into force.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev was deposed in an April 7 uprising that left 85 people … Original article on : Ousted president of Kyrgyzstan vows not to return home as president but says hasn’t resigned.

Amid rocky Israel-US relations, White House envoy aims to renew peace talks

US envoy aims to renew Israeli-Palestinian talks

JERUSALEM – A White House envoy trying Friday to get Israelis and Palestinians talking again faced a second challenge – navigating the rocky relations between Israel and the U.S.
Senator and veteran negotiator George Mitchell’s most important meeting, scheduled for Friday afternoon, was to be with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Amid rocky Israel-US relations, White House envoy aims to renew peace talks.

NATO chief says Afghan war effort improving as allies aim to begin winding it down in 2011

Allied leader says Afghan war effort now on track
TALLINN, Estonia – NATO’s top official said Friday the 28-nation alliance is on track with its new strategy for winding down the war in Afghanistan next year, despite security setbacks and a continuing shortage of foreign trainers for the fledgling Afghan police and army.
NATO Secretary …. Original article  : NATO chief says Afghan war effort improving as allies aim to begin winding it down in 2011.

Sarah Palin takes rare detour to liberal town to speak at GOP fundraiser in Oregon

Sarah Palin visits liberal Oregon stronghold
Sarah Palin could have hardly picked a more crunchy granola town to give a speech in than Eugene.
Despite its pioneer and logging heritage, the town where Nike running shoes were born from a waffle iron is high on organic food, snobby about craft beers and tattoos, …. Original article  : Sarah Palin takes rare detour to liberal town to speak at GOP fundraiser in Oregon.

Morales’ comments on gays, chickens, baldness trump climate event

LA PAZ – A three-day conference on climate change in the central Bolivian town of Tiquipaya made more headlines for the striking comments by Bolivian President Evo Morales than any concrete proposals.

“The chicken we eat is full of female hormones,” Morales claimed Tuesday. “That is why men, when they eat this chicken, have deviations in …. Original source  : Morales’ comments on gays, chickens, baldness trump climate event.

Rajya Sabha adjourned over IPL row

NEW DELHI – The Rajya Sabha was adjourned Friday over the opposition’s demand for a parliamentary probe into the Indian Premier League (IPL) row and the alleged involvement of politicians in the body.

As soon as zero hour began, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members led by S.S. Ahluwalia, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Prakash Javadekar were on …. Source  : Rajya Sabha adjourned over IPL row.

Clinton and NATO map out requirements to begin winding down Afghan war by 2011

Clinton and NATO plan West’s Afghan exit
TALLINN, Estonia – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to press other NATO nations to provide more trainers for Afghanistan’s police and military forces as part of preparations to withdraw Western troops from there by summer 2011.
Clinton and representatives of 27 other … Read more : Clinton and NATO map out requirements to begin winding down Afghan war by 2011.

Congress finalises list of ministers for Meghalaya

SHILLONG – The Congress has finalised its list of ministers to be sworn in Saturday as ministers in the new Meghalaya government headed by Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma.
“The party high command has approved the list and the remaining eight ministers will be inducted Saturday morning,” Sangma told IANS from New Delhi, … Read : Congress finalises list of ministers for Meghalaya.

90 percent suspects in Benazir assassination case behind bars: Zardari

LAHORE – Assuring that each and every person involved in former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination would be brought to justice, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that ‘90 percent’ of those accused have already been arrested.

Addressing a delegation of mediapersons, Zardari said …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 90 percent suspects in Benazir assassination case behind bars: Zardari.

Families say 2 of 3 Americans jailed in Iran are in poor health, according to Swiss diplomats

2 Americans jailed in Iran reported in poor health

MINNEAPOLIS – Two of three American hikers jailed in Iran for nearly nine months are in poor health and told Swiss diplomats – their first outside visitors since October – that they were considering a hunger strike, their mothers said late Thursday.
Sarah Shourd, who is being held …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Families say 2 of 3 Americans jailed in Iran are in poor health, according to Swiss diplomats.

Families say 2 of 3 Americans jailed in Iraq are in poor health, according to Swiss diplomats

2 Americans jailed in Iraq reported in poor health

MINNEAPOLIS – Two of three American hikers jailed in Iran for nearly nine months are in poor health and told Swiss diplomats – their first outside visitors since October – that they were considering a hunger strike, their mothers said late Thursday.
Sarah Shourd, who is being held … Read more »»».

Reprocessing deal may sail through US Congress

WASHINGTON – The recently concluded agreement on reprocessing of spent US origin nuclear fuel by India is expected to have a smooth sail through US Congress as it does not require a formal legislative nod.
“It may be one of those cases where we notify the Congress and then it has like 30 business …. Read the original article  : Reprocessing deal may sail through US Congress.

Grenade attacks kill at least 1 in Thai capital; protesters, security forces stand off nearby

Attacks in Bangkok kill at least 1 amid standoff

BANGKOK – Security forces and agitated protesters faced off at a major intersection Friday after bloody grenade attacks rattled Thailand’s chaotic capital – a scene of tense, weekslong confrontations between die-hard demonstrators and a wavering government.
The late-night attacks killed at least one person and wounded 86, according … Read more >>.

India seeks accord to avoid dual social security taxation

WASHINGTON – India has asked the United States to recognise that New Delhi has achieved significant progress towards comprehensive social security coverage and start negotiations on a bilateral agreement to avoid dual social security taxation.

Raising the issue with the US Labour Secretary Hilda Solis here Thursday, Indian Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge pointed out … Read more : India seeks accord to avoid dual social security taxation.

Grenade attacks kill 3 in Thai capital; agitated protesters, security forces stand off nearby

Attacks in Thai capital kill 3 amid tense standoff

BANGKOK – Security forces and agitated protesters faced off at a major intersection Friday after bloody grenade attacks rattled Thailand’s chaotic capital – a scene of tense, weekslong confrontations between die-hard demonstrators and a wavering government.
The late-night attacks killed three people and wounded 75, Deputy Prime Minister …. Source  : Grenade attacks kill 3 in Thai capital; agitated protesters, security forces stand off nearby.

Govt report says health care overhaul won’t cut costs but will increase them

Report: Health overhaul will increase nation’s tab
WASHINGTON – Government economic forecasters say President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul will increase the nation’s health care tab instead of bringing costs down.
The report by economic experts at the Health and Human Services Department, released late Thursday, says the health care remake will achieve Obama’s aim … Original article on : Govt report says health care overhaul won’t cut costs but will increase them.

UN re-appoints top environment, refugee chiefs

NEW YORK – The UN General Assembly Thursday approved a new four-year contract for Achim Steiner of Germany, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that has been an important part in the global fight against climate change.

Steiner has been active in implementing UN programmes to prevent the deterioration of the environment and … Read more »»».

Gov. Schweitzer says rents reduced on dozens of state leases, saving more than $3.4 million

Montana negotiates lower rent on dozens of leases

HELENA, Mont. – Montana has renegotiated dozens of leases with landlords across the state, reducing the rent agencies pay by more than $3.4 million over the life of those leases, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Thursday.
The state rents thousands of square feet of office space in cities and towns …. Source article  : Gov. Schweitzer says rents reduced on dozens of state leases, saving more than $3.4 million.

US agents remove passenger added to ‘no-fly’ list en route to New York from Africa

US detains NY-bound passenger in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A man on a flight from West Africa to New York City was removed from the plane and detained Thursday after authorities apparently added him to a no-fly list during the trip.
Customs and Border Protection agents detained the man while the Delta Air Lines … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US agents remove passenger added to ‘no-fly’ list en route to New York from Africa.