Britain’s government sets out legislative program after historic and messy election

UK government sets out legislative program

LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II has opened Parliament nearly 60 times, but she will have an unfamiliar task Tuesday as she sets out the legislative program of a coalition government – the country’s first since World War II.
Amid centuries-old tradition featuring cannon fire, Yeoman Guards, mounted cavalry and glittering carriages, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Britain’s government sets out legislative program after historic and messy election.

Texas Gov. Perry penning book this year warning of dangers of federal government intrusion

Texas Gov. Perry writing book blasting feds

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Gov. Rick Perry has long criticized the federal government, and now he’s writing on the subject in a new book called “FED UP.”
Perry’s office confirmed and book publisher Little, Brown and Company announced Tuesday that the GOP governor is writing the book. It’s due out …. Read the original article  : Texas Gov. Perry penning book this year warning of dangers of federal government intrusion.

UN: shortfall in donations for Chad relief puts 2 million at risk of hunger

FAO reports shortfall in Chad donations
ROME – A U.N. agency has warned that a dramatic shortfall in donations for Chad’s agriculture relief puts 2 million people at risk of hunger in the African nation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization said Tuesday that it has been able to mobilize only $2 million out of the $11.8 million [..] Read the original article: here.

BJP vague on Jaswant, Uma Bharti’s return

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was Wednesday ambiguous about the much touted return of veterans Jaswant Singh and Uma Bharti to the party fold.

Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said there was no development concerning them when asked about reports that the two leaders would return to the BJP before the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : BJP vague on Jaswant, Uma Bharti’s return.

Labrador maintains slim lead over Ward in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District

Labrador keeps early, narrow lead over Ward

BOISE, Idaho – State Rep. Raul Labrador is maintaining his lead over Marine reservist Vaughn Ward in their matchup for the Republican nomination in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District.
With 325 of 462 precincts reporting, Labrador has 46.3 percent of the votes compared to 39.9 percent for Ward – an advantage … Read more »».

Idaho lawmaker scores upset with GOP nomination win in state’s 1st Congressional District

Idaho lawmaker wins GOP nod in US House race

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho state Rep. Raul Labrador has won the Republican nomination in the state’s 1st Congressional District, pulling an upset over rival Vaughn Ward.
Labrador won Tuesday even though he had a significant fundraising disadvantage and despite launching his bid just six months ago.
He’ll face another [..] Read the original article: here.

McCain’s campaign fires back as challenger wrongly says US never declared war on Nazi Germany

McCain’s primary challenger flubs historical fact

PHOENIX – GOP Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth, locked in a tough primary fight against Sen. John McCain, flubbed a key historical fact last week, asserting wrongly that the United States never declared war on Germany in World War II.
The gaffe came as Hayworth responded Thursday at a Phoenix Republican club … Read more »»».

President to unveil Tagore statue in Shanghai

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil, who left Wednesday on a six-day visit to China, will unveil a statue of poet Rabindranath Tagore in Shanghai in honour of the Nobel laureate’s journey to the city in 1924, one that was marked by radical hostility from student groups at the time.
Patil, who will unveil …. Source article  : President to unveil Tagore statue in Shanghai.

Congress to hold Iran sanctions bill until UN and EU act

Congress to wait on bilateral sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON – Congressional leaders putting together a new round of U.S. sanctions against Iran say they will defer final action to give the United Nations and the European Union a chance to take multinational action against Iran.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Republicans, Dems press White House on whether it offered job to Sestak to skip Pa. primary

Republicans, Dems press White House on job offer

WASHINGTON – Republicans and Democrats pressured the White House on Tuesday to disclose whether it offered a federal job to Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak if he would drop his Senate primary challenge against Democratic incumbent Arlen Specter.
Sestak has said repeatedly that he rejected an offer to join the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Republicans, Dems press White House on whether it offered job to Sestak to skip Pa. primary.

I was betrayed, says Nepal’s last king

KATHMANDU – Two years after he lost his crown and was compelled to leave the palace of his forefathers to begin life as a commoner, Nepal’s last king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah has finally ended his silence, saying he was “betrayed”.

The 62-year-old, who being a younger son had no hope of ascending the snake throne … Original source on Gaea Times at : I was betrayed, says Nepal’s last king.

US politician caught plagiarising Obama speech

LONDON – A Republican congressional candidate has been accused of plagiarising US President Barack Obama’s speech on “the crossroads of history”.
Vaughn Ward, a former US Marine Corps officer and CIA operative, was running for the Republican congressional nomination in an election held Tuesday in Idaho.
The Telegraph reported Wednesday that Lucas Baumbach, a …. Source  : US politician caught plagiarising Obama speech.

With tepid backing from Gates and some Dems opposed, lifting military’s ban on gays in doubt

Proposal to lift ban on gays in military in doubt

WASHINGTON – A lukewarm endorsement from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and opposition among some lawmakers cast doubt Tuesday on whether Congress this week would lift a 17-year-old ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Gay rights’ groups predicted that the bill might pass the House but … Read this article on Gaea Times at : With tepid backing from Gates and some Dems opposed, lifting military’s ban on gays in doubt.

Clinton to address North-South tensions during Seoul visit

SEOUL – US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Seoul Wednesday for a half-day visit to discuss rising tensions on the Korean peninsula after the sinking of a South Korean warship was blamed on North Korea.
Talks on joint strategies to handle the crisis and Washington’s reaffirmation of its support for Seoul … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Clinton to address North-South tensions during Seoul visit.

South Korean officials ordered out of border factory

SEOUL – North Korea Wednesday ordered South Korean government personnel to leave their joint factory complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, a top official said, even as tensions between the two countries flared over the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

The eight South Korean officials, however, told North Korean … Read : South Korean officials ordered out of border factory.

Bloomberg announces $22M fund for tech startups, urges tech companies to put down roots in NYC

NYC mayor announces $22M fund for tech startups

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is announcing a new fund to help promising technology startup companies.
It’s expected to be a $22 million investment fund. The city is putting in $3 million. FirstMark Capital, a New York-based venture capital firm, will contribute up to $19 …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Bloomberg announces $22M fund for tech startups, urges tech companies to put down roots in NYC.

FBI files say the bureau had a ‘prosecutive’ federal case against Murtha in the Abscam scandal

New FBI documents detail Murtha’s role in Abscam

WASHINGTON – Newly released FBI documents detail the role of the late Rep. John Murtha in the Abscam scandal, the law enforcement sting that damaged the congressman’s reputation early in his political career. The documents on the FBI’s two-decade-old investigation state that “during the course of the operations, … Read more »».

Horace Greeley redux: Democrats go west to win elections but now struggle to hold onto gains

Go west! Dems did, now struggle to hold onto gains
LONGMONT, Colo. – Westward, uh-oh.
For Democrats, the newly minted crossover voters who helped elect Barack Obama president in 2008 are displaying a rugged individualist streak and echoing tea party-type distrust of all things Washington. This is haunting the party as it struggles to keep …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Horace Greeley redux: Democrats go west to win elections but now struggle to hold onto gains.

Mexican senators to travel to Arizona to hold forum on immigration law, but won’t protest

Mexican senators to listen, not protest in Arizona

MEXICO CITY – A delegation of Mexican senators plans to go to Arizona to listen to opinions about the U.S. state’s immigration law, but it will not take part in any protests against the controversial measure.
The Mexican Senate has already voiced its opposition to the Arizona law, which … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Mexican senators to travel to Arizona to hold forum on immigration law, but won’t protest.

Chicago waits to hear if it will be hiring firefighters in long-running discrimination case

Chicago waits for next step in firefighter case

CHICAGO – The city of Chicago says it’s ready to hire firefighters in a long-running discrimination case if it’s ordered to do so now that the U.S. Supreme Court has found a group of black applicants didn’t wait too long to sue.
The Supreme Court’s decision Monday sent the …. Original source  : Chicago waits to hear if it will be hiring firefighters in long-running discrimination case.