Captured militants attack guards in army intelligence office in NW Pakistan, sparking battle

Captured militants attack guards in NW Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Captured Islamist militants seized weapons from their guards and took them hostage during an interrogation Saturday in northwestern Pakistan, setting off a gunbattle that paralyzed parts of the city, officials said.
Police officials initially said militants had attacked the army intelligence office from outside, but other officials …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

After police chiefs, Punjab to rate deputy commissioners

CHANDIGARH – The Punjab government will now do a performance rating of deputy commissioners (DCs) of all 20 districts in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has said.

“He (Badal) asked the chief secretary to evolve a proforma to monitor the performance and effectiveness of deputy commissioners on the pattern of senior superintendents of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : After police chiefs, Punjab to rate deputy commissioners.

Indian women politicians and their hairdos

NEW DELHI – On August 20th, Priyanka Gandhi appeared at Veer Bhoomi, the memorial in New Delhi dedicated to her father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, to pay her respects on his 66th birth anniversary, and photographers at the location … Original article on : Indian women politicians and their hairdos.

Tony Blair buys daughter ???1m London pad

LONDON – Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Cherie have spent nearly 1 million pounds on a London home for their daughter Kathryn.

This means that they have bought expensive properties for three of their children, Kathryn, 22, Nicholas, 25, and Euan, 26.

“Cherie wants all the children to have a firm platform to be …. Original article  : Tony Blair buys daughter ???1m London pad.

Catching up to private insurance, Medicare expands coverage for counseling to quit smoking

Will grandma ever quit smoking?
WASHINGTON – Medicare is catching up to most private insurers by providing counseling for any beneficiary who’s trying to quit smoking. More than 4 million seniors are hooked on cigarettes.

Dr. Barry Straube, Medicare’s chief medical officer, says it’s never too late to quit, even for lifelong smokers.
Seniors can benefit from smoking …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Catching up to private insurance, Medicare expands coverage for counseling to quit smoking.

After years of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Carter enters spotlight with N. Korea release

Carter’s diplomacy helps free American prisoner

ATLANTA – Jimmy Carter has for years worked behind the scenes to secure the release of political prisoners. But this week he had to do it in person and in the public spotlight, traveling to North Korea to bring an American home.
The Nobel laureate was forced front-and-center when the diplomatic … Original article on : After years of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Carter enters spotlight with N. Korea release.

Blairs now buy house for daughter

LONDON – Former British prime minister Tony Blair and wife Cherie have bought a three-bedroom house for their daughter Kathryn in central London, a media report said.

The maisonette in a Georgian townhouse in central London becomes the eighth home in the Blairs’ seemingly ever-expanding portfolio, Daily Mail reported on its website Friday.
It was bought … Read more >>.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg talks about television and the court

Ginsburg talks about television and the high court

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said television has profoundly changed confirmation hearings but declined to say Friday whether she’d oppose televising arguments.
Ginsburg told a Colorado judicial conference that TV has made Supreme Court confirmation hearings much longer because senators posture for cameras.
“The people … Read : Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg talks about television and the court.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg talks about television, the court

Ginsburg talks about television and Supreme Court

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says television has profoundly changed confirmation hearings, but declined to say whether she’d oppose them.
Ginsburg told a Colorado judicial conference Friday that TV has made Supreme Court confirmation hearings longer because senators posture for cameras. She also said that …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg talks about television, the court.

New York mayor plays golf with holidaying Obama

NEW YORK – New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg paid a visit to Martha’s Vineyard, where Barack Obama is on a holiday, and played golf with the US president.
The mayor was invited by Obama to talk about the economy, a White House spokesman told New York Post Friday.
“The president and Mayor Bloomberg took …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New York mayor plays golf with holidaying Obama.

Brewer condemns State Department for mentioning Arizona law in human rights report to UN

Brewer condemns report to UN mentioning Ariz. law
PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer demanded Friday that a reference to the state’s controversial immigration law be removed from a State Department report to the United Nations’ human rights commissioner.
The U.S. included its legal challenge to the law on a list of ways the federal …. Read the original article  : Brewer condemns State Department for mentioning Arizona law in human rights report to UN.

Tweet posted by staffer of Alaska GOP Senate hopeful Joe Miller causes stir

Tweet by AK Senate candidate’s staffer causes stir

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Joe Miller apologized on Twitter and a campaign staffer was told to exercise more caution Friday after someone in Miller’s campaign sent a tweet that appeared to liken a possible party switch by Sen. Lisa Murkowski to prostitution.
The item posted on …. Read the original article  : Tweet posted by staffer of Alaska GOP Senate hopeful Joe Miller causes stir.

Democrats file complaint with IRS, accuse conservative group of tax code violations

Democrats file IRS complaint against outside group

WASHINGTON – The Democratic party has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service complaining that a conservative foundation that is spending millions of dollars on ads in election battleground states is violating its status as a tax-exempt organization.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee charges that Americans for Prosperity Foundation … Original article on : Democrats file complaint with IRS, accuse conservative group of tax code violations.

Letter from the President to the Secretary of State Regarding Kyrgyzstan

Presidential Determination No. 2010-12
SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Resulting from Violence in Kyrgyzstan
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the “Act”), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601(c)(1)), I hereby determine, pursuant to section …. Read the original article  : Letter from the President to the Secretary of State Regarding Kyrgyzstan.

In close Vermont Democratic gubernatorial primary, 2nd-place finisher plans to seek a recount

Dem. runner-up wants recount in Vt. gov. primary

RICHMOND, Vt. – First, it was too close to call. Then it was called. Now, the second-place finisher is second-guessing the call.
Vermont’s unsettled Democratic gubernatorial primary got even less settled Friday, with an official vote tally confirming state Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin’s victory and also-ran Doug …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : In close Vermont Democratic gubernatorial primary, 2nd-place finisher plans to seek a recount.

Gun rights lobby says it won’t endorse Reid in Nevada Senate race

NRA declines to endorse Reid in Nevada Senate race
WASHINGTON – Senate Democratic Leader Harry’s Reid’s support for President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominees has cost him the endorsement of the National Rifle Association.
The NRA is a force in rural states like Nevada where many voters own guns and hunt. It’s unclear whether the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Gun rights lobby says it won’t endorse Reid in Nevada Senate race.

Federal appeals court upholds decision that vaccines do not cause autism

Appeals court rejects autism vaccine link
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a ruling that vaccines are not to blame for autism.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a decision last year by a special vaccine court, which concluded there’s little if any evidence to support claims of a vaccine-autism … Original article on : Federal appeals court upholds decision that vaccines do not cause autism.

National Guard troops to deploy to Arizona border on Monday; they’ll be armed for self-defense

Guard troops to deploy to Arizona border on Monday
PHOENIX – The first of 532 National Guard troops are set to begin their mission in the southern Arizona desert on Monday under President Barack Obama’s plan to beef up U.S.-Mexico border security, although they won’t have any law enforcement authority.
About 30 troops …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Statement by President Obama on the Promulgation of Kenya’s New Constitution

I congratulate Kenya on the promulgation of the new constitution, which was approved by a majority of voters on August 4, 2010. This historic approval and signing of the constitution is an important step forward, and demonstrates the commitment of Kenya’s leaders and people to a future of unity, democracy, and … Original article on : Statement by President Obama on the Promulgation of Kenya’s New Constitution.

Military: there was no hint that Enright couldn’t handle exposure to Afghan battlefield

Slashing suspect traveled with Marines for weeks

WASHINGTON – The college student accused of slashing a New York cab driver showed no signs he might have trouble coping with the experience of traveling with combat troops in Afghanistan, the military said Friday.
Michael Enright, a student and freelance journalist who embedded with Marines in southern Afghanistan’s restive … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Military: there was no hint that Enright couldn’t handle exposure to Afghan battlefield.