Sonia promises all help to make Kashmir progressive

JAMMU – Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday offered the full support of the central government in making Jammu and Kashmir a progressive state and also lauded the tribal Gujjar community’s contribution in fighting terrorism in the state.

Gandi, on a day-long visit to Jammu, made it clear in her address after inaugurating a tribal cultural …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sonia promises all help to make Kashmir progressive.

Separatist shutdown hits Kashmir to protest Sonia visit

SRINAGAR – Life across the Kashmir Valley was affected Saturday by a shutdown called by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on a day Congress president Sonia Gandhi is visiting the state. Authorities have imposed restrictions in the old city areas of Srinagar.
Geelani has called the shutdown against the United Progressive Alliance …. Original article  : Separatist shutdown hits Kashmir to protest Sonia visit.

Go-ahead for conference to take first step to ban nuclear arms in Mideast – if Israel agrees

Israel key to conference on banning nuclear arms
UNITED NATIONS – After 15 years, Arab nations finally won agreement from the United States and the other nuclear powers to take the first step toward banning nuclear weapons from the Middle East. Now, the next move is Israel’s.
Although the U.S. joined the 188 …. Original article  : Go-ahead for conference to take first step to ban nuclear arms in Mideast – if Israel agrees.

Green light for conference to take first step to ban nukes in Mideast _ if Israel agrees

Israel key to conference on banning nukes
UNITED NATIONS – After 15 years, Arab nations finally won agreement from the United States and the other nuclear powers to take the first step toward banning nuclear weapons from the Middle East. Now, the next move is Israel’s.
Although the U.S. joined the 188 other member nations …. Read the original article  : Green light for conference to take first step to ban nukes in Mideast _ if Israel agrees.

Dems cut health subsidies, aid to states in attempt to salvage bill extending jobless benefits

Dems cut health subsidies to salvage jobs bill

WASHINGTON – House leaders have proposed dropping billions in aid to states and letting health insurance subsidies for laid-off workers expire in an effort to round up votes for a bill to extend unemployment benefits.
Democrats struggled Thursday to extend jobless benefits for people who have been out of …. Source article  : Dems cut health subsidies, aid to states in attempt to salvage bill extending jobless benefits.

Detroit mayor bans TV crews from police raids after death of Aiyana with cameras present

Detroit mayor bans TV crews from police raids

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has banned reality television crews from tagging along with police after TV cameras accompanied officers on a raid in which a 7-year-old girl was shot dead.
Bing says he also has chided Police Chief Warren Evans for not telling him that he was …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Obama raising cash in California for Boxer’s tough re-election campaign, Senate Democrats

Obama raising cash in California for Boxer
SAN FRANCISCO – President Barack Obama is helping raise money for Sen. Barbara Boxer’s re-election campaign, making his second trip to California in as many months to assist the imperiled incumbent.
Obama arrived in San Francisco for two fundraisers Tuesday night for Boxer, a liberal Democrat who is …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

This ain’t no party: Talking Heads singer sues Fla. Gov. Crist for $1M over song use

Talking Heads singer sues Fla. governor for $1M

MIAMI – Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is being sued for $1 million for using a Talking Heads song in a campaign ad without the band’s permission.
The band’s ex-lead singer David Byrne sued the governor Monday in Tampa for using “Road to Nowhere” in an online attack ad against …. Read the original article  : This ain’t no party: Talking Heads singer sues Fla. Gov. Crist for $1M over song use.

APNewsBreak: 3 years after US-Mexico crackdown on narcos, changes are sought in funding

APNewsBreak: US officials seek drug war change

MEXICO CITY – The Obama Administration wants to shift U.S. aid in Mexico away from high-priced helicopters and airplanes and toward reforming Mexico’s corrupt law enforcement, courts and politicians.
Most of the $310 million that the Obama Administration seeks for Mexico in its 2011 budget request is aimed at judicial …. Source article  : APNewsBreak: 3 years after US-Mexico crackdown on narcos, changes are sought in funding.

Peruvian officials seeking family of Md. girl who questioned first lady on immigration

Peru officials seek girl who questioned first lady
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Peruvian officials in the U.S. were seeking the family of a second-grader who told first lady Michelle Obama that her mother “doesn’t have papers,” so they can help them with documentation from their home country, a consulate official said Wednesday.
The 7-year-old told the …. Source  : Peruvian officials seeking family of Md. girl who questioned first lady on immigration.

Red Cross says first aid courses for Taliban are part of its humanitarian mandate

Red Cross defends first aid courses for Taliban

GENEVA – The international Red Cross has defended its first aid training for Taliban fighters in Afghanistan after media reports sparked criticism from Afghan officials.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it trained “over 70 members of the armed opposition” in first aid last month.
The group says …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Red Cross says first aid courses for Taliban are part of its humanitarian mandate.

RJD MP delays President Patil’s flight in China

BEIJING/LUOYANG – President Pratibha Patil’s flight from Beijing to Luoyang was delayed by 20 minutes Saturday as Lok Sabha MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh arrived late to board the special Chinese aircraft.

Singh, who is from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party of Lalu Yadav, however, blamed mismanagement for the delay, saying he had not been informed …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Obama’s new national security strategy preserves US military advantage, prizes alternatives

New US security goals prize non-military security
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration’s new outline of the top goals for U.S. national security will say that the United States should maintain its military advantage over the rest of the world while prizing other kinds of power.
The Associated Press obtained details of the forthcoming National Security …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Obama’s new national security strategy preserves US military advantage, prizes alternatives.

Biden jokes about avoiding ‘Blumenthal mistake’ in session with veterans

Biden jokes about avoiding ‘Blumenthal mistake’

WASHINGTON – Vice President Joe Biden has joked about avoiding a “Blumenthal mistake,” a reference to the Connecticut attorney general’s frequent misstatements about serving in Vietnam.
Biden met with veterans visiting his official residence on Tuesday night and tried to joke about Blumenthal’s gaffe, for which he apologized last week. The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Biden jokes about avoiding ‘Blumenthal mistake’ in session with veterans.

El Salvador’s leftist president to hold meeting on reincorporating Honduras into regional body

Salvadoran president to hold meeting on Honduras

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – El Salvador’s president says a meeting of Central American leaders in July will discuss reincorporating neighboring Honduras into the Central American Integration System, an economic and political group.
Leftist President Mauricio Funes says the Honduran people are suffering the most from that country’s diplomatic isolation …. Read the original article  : El Salvador’s leftist president to hold meeting on reincorporating Honduras into regional body.

Palin defends SC governor candidate accused of having physical relationship with blogger

Palin denounces claim SC gov candidate had affair
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is decrying claims by a blogger that he had an inappropriate physical relationship with South Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley.
In a posting on her Facebook page Monday, Palin said it was “quite convenient” that blogger Will Folks …. Source article  : Palin defends SC governor candidate accused of having physical relationship with blogger.

Gunmen attack 2 mosques of minority sect in Pakistan; 20 dead, worshippers may be hostages

Attackers strike sect mosques in Pakistan; 20 dead

LAHORE, Pakistan – Gunmen armed with grenades attacked two mosques of a minority sect during Friday prayers in eastern Pakistan, seizing control of one mosque and battling with police, officials and witnesses said. At least 20 people were killed, and worshippers were believed held hostage.
The attacks by suspected …. Source  : Gunmen attack 2 mosques of minority sect in Pakistan; 20 dead, worshippers may be hostages.

At UN nuclear session, diplomats hunt for common ground on Mideast nuke-free zone

Nuke treaty session hunts for Mideast compromise
UNITED NATIONS – In closed-door huddles extending into Thursday night, diplomats at a nuclear treaty conference sought to break a deadlock between the Arabs and Israel’s allies over a plan to turn the Middle East into a nuclear weapons-free zone.
A deal would likely clear the way for …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

NC’s Jesse Helms garnered favor from FBI; later asked agents to probe leak to reporters

NC Sen. Helms sought FBI favor, called in agents

RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Senator Jesse Helms curried favor with the FBI and director J. Edgar Hoover before starting his 30-year political life as a conservative icon, then occasionally called on the bureau for information and investigations, newly released records showed.
The FBI file on Helms, a polarizing … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NC’s Jesse Helms garnered favor from FBI; later asked agents to probe leak to reporters.

Nepal averts crisis but chaos remains

KATHMANDU – Though the nascent republic of Nepal managed to stave off an unprecedented constitutional crisis by a hair’s breadth Friday midnight, public anger and confusion still remained, turning the celebration of Republic Day Saturday into a travesty.

The interim parliament, which has also been mandated to write a new constitution, was saved from the jaws … Read more : Nepal averts crisis but chaos remains.