Former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to donate kidney to his wife

Former German FM to donate kidney to his wife

BERLIN – Germany’s main opposition leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier says he will take a few weeks off politics so he can donate a kidney to his wife.
Steinmeier told reporters Monday he would take a few weeks off for the procedure and come back to politics in October, news … Read more >>>.

Prachanda claims ethnic support in PM poll

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda entered the ring – where the fifth round of battle for the new prime minister’s post is being held Monday – with the hope that he will be supported by the ethnic parties from the Terai plains and win.

The 55-year-old former revolutionary, who failed to triumph …. Original article  : Prachanda claims ethnic support in PM poll.

First family staying in, keeping it low-key during Martha’s Vineyard vacation getaway

Low-key vacation for president on Vineyard
CHILMARK, Mass. – It says something when the most exciting moment of a presidential vacation is a trip to the bookstore.
Since arriving on Martha’s Vineyard last Thursday, President Barack Obama has been in hard-core “no drama” form. He and his family have eschewed the island’s ritzy restaurants and … Original article on : First family staying in, keeping it low-key during Martha’s Vineyard vacation getaway.

SPIN METER: Republicans hot, cold on defending Constitution _ depending on what’s at stake

SPIN METER: Republicans hot, cold on Constitution

WASHINGTON – Republican Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia won his seat in Congress campaigning as a strict defender of the Constitution. He carries a copy in his pocket and is particularly fond of invoking the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
But it turns out there are parts of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : SPIN METER: Republicans hot, cold on defending Constitution _ depending on what’s at stake.

Cabinet hikes MPs’ perks, salary raise unaltered

NEW DELHI – The union cabinet Monday decided to further increase allowances of MPs by Rs.10,000 per month, comprising a hike of Rs.5,000 each in their constituency and office expense allowances. However, the three-fold salary hike remains unaltered.
The panel met here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider and bring … Read more : Cabinet hikes MPs’ perks, salary raise unaltered.

McCain uses $20M in campaign money, tough ads on rival to turnaround GOP primary race

McCain turns vulnerable label into front-runner

GILBERT, Ariz. – The cast of “Survivor” has nothing on Sen. John McCain.
Once labeled a vulnerable incumbent, the four-term Arizona Republican is the clear front-runner against challenger J.D. Hayworth after spending some $20 million and casting his GOP opponent as a late-night infomercial huckster in a series of devastating ads. …. Read the original article  : McCain uses $20M in campaign money, tough ads on rival to turnaround GOP primary race.

President greets nation on Raksha Bandhan

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil Monday greeted the nation on the eve of Raksha Bandhan, a festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

“On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens,” Patil said in her message.
This festival, she said, … Read more »».

Re-emergence of sidewalk porn in Iraq offers window into the country’s chaotic politics

Porn offers window into Iraq’s chaotic politics

BAGHDAD – The nude women on the DVD cover in a Baghdad street stall say it all: Change, whether you like it or not, is afoot in Iraq.
Hundreds of porn DVDs are stacked elbow-deep on a wooden table in Jassim Hanoun’s ramshackle stall on a downtown sidewalk. His other …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

The Dalai Lama: A monk on the move

DHARAMSALA – Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is 75 but still a true globetrotter, so much so that he doesn’t really need to unpack.
He’s made 11 trips just in the last seven months – to places within India and outside to speak on peace, non-violence, Buddhism and even environmental concerns. And last … Read : The Dalai Lama: A monk on the move.

Ex-policeman in Philippine capital holds tourist bus hostage with 24 passengers; 7 safe

Ex-policeman in Philippines holds tourists hostage

MANILA, Philippines – A dismissed policeman armed with an automatic rifle seized a bus in the Philippine capital Monday with 24 passengers, most of them Hong Kong tourists, in a bid to demand his reinstatement, police said.
Seven hostages, including three children, were subsequently released unharmed. A senior Chinese diplomat who [..] Read the original article: here.

Cabinet hikes MPs’ perks

NEW DELHI – The union cabinet Monday further increased allowances of MPs by Rs.10,000 per month, comprising a hike of Rs.5,000 each in constituency and office expense allowances for parliamentarians. However, the three-fold salary hike raise remained unaltered.
The panel met here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider and bring …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cabinet hikes MPs’ perks.

Stones in Kashmir can’t be met with bullets: Karat

SRINAGAR – Condemning the deaths of over 60 Kashmiri civilians in firing by security forces, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said here Monday that stone pelting protests cannot be met with bullets.

Addressing a media conference in the Jammu and Kashmir summer capital, Karat said a CPI-M delegation was in Srinagar to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Stones in Kashmir can’t be met with bullets: Karat.

Cabinet to reconsider MPs’ salary hike bill

NEW DELHI – The union cabinet will meet here Monday to reconsider and bring amendments to the MPs’ salary hike bill it had cleared last week. It was severely opposed by parliamentarians who were demanding a 500 percent raise against the three-fold hike proposed by the government.

Sources told IANS that the panel is likely to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Cabinet to reconsider MPs’ salary hike bill.

Nitish, Lalu, Paswan rakhis a hit in Bihar

PATNA – They have a tough electoral contest ahead, but Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his rivals Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan are also jostling for supremacy in Bihar’s rakhi markets. A day ahead of the festival, rakhis named after the three were doing brisk business Monday with reports that Nitish Kumar had a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Nitish, Lalu, Paswan rakhis a hit in Bihar.

Venezuela holds simulated vote to test electronic system ahead of legislative elections

Venezuela holds mock vote ahead of elections

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s elections council has held a mock ballot to test the country’s electronic voting system ahead of legislative elections next month.
Authorities say they did not immediately detect any problems during the simulated vote Sunday using more than 4,000 touch-screen voting machines and biometric identification devices planned …. Source article  : Venezuela holds simulated vote to test electronic system ahead of legislative elections.

Israeli leader stakes out positions before peace talks, drawing swift Palestinian rejection

Israeli PM stakes out positions for peace talks
JERUSALEM – Israel’s prime minister demanded Sunday that any future Palestinian state be demilitarized and recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland, as he staked out his starting position for new Mideast peace talks.
Benjamin Netanyahu said reaching a deal will be difficult but possible. The …. Original source  : Israeli leader stakes out positions before peace talks, drawing swift Palestinian rejection.

Iraq acknowledges killer of British aid worker escaped from prison 11 months ago

Iraq acknowledges Briton’s killer escaped
BAGHDAD – Iraq’s deputy justice minister has acknowledged the convicted killer of British aid worker Margaret Hassan has escaped from prison.

The announcement is an embarrassment for authorities because it is being made 11 months after the escape and the victim’s family had already made the news public last month.
Hassan’s 2004 kidnapping … Read more : Iraq acknowledges killer of British aid worker escaped from prison 11 months ago.

Calif. Republicans hope diverse statewide ticket lifts all candidates’ prospects in November

Calif. GOP hopes statewide slate lifts others, too

SAN DIEGO – For the first time in memory, California Republicans have a diverse statewide slate of candidates to field this fall, a lineup their state party chairman calls “an inspirational ticket.” Coupled with national momentum for conservatives, the California GOP is hoping this might be their breakthrough … Original source on Gaea Times at : Calif. Republicans hope diverse statewide ticket lifts all candidates’ prospects in November.

Wyclef Jean not abandoning presidential bid; lawyers to appeal decision rejecting candidacy

Wyclef Jean: I’m not giving up my bid for prez yet

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Hip-hop singer Wyclef Jean said Sunday he is not abandoning his presidential bid just yet and will try to get the courts to overturn a decision disqualifying him from the race.
Speaking to The Associated Press by telephone from his home in Croix … Original article on : Wyclef Jean not abandoning presidential bid; lawyers to appeal decision rejecting candidacy.

Seek land acquisition act amendment instead of visits: Mayawati

LUCKNOW – A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited protesting farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district, Chief Minister Mayawati Sunday asked politicians “interested in the welfare of farmers” to seek amendments of the land acquisition act rather then visiting trouble spots.

Without taking Gandhi’s name, Mayawati, in in a statement read out by state cabinet …. Read the original article  : here.