Al Gore gets school honour

LOS ANGELES – Former US vice-president Al Gore who has lately dabbled into environmental filmmaking is set to be honoured with an environmental school in his name in Los Angeles.

The CarsonGore Academy of Environmental Sciences will open Sep 13.
Al Gore shares the school honour with writer Rachel Carson, who is credited with launching …. Read the original article  : Al Gore gets school honour.

Bangladesh, India to protect Sunderbans

DHAKA – Bangladesh and India will soon sign a protocol to protect the riverine Sunderbans that covers parts of both the South Asian neighbours.
Sunderbans is home to famous Royal Bengal tiger. The two countries have resolved to cooperate to protect the area’s ecology and the tiger, that is now an endangered specie. … Original article on : Bangladesh, India to protect Sunderbans.

Veteran Tripura Congress leader dead

AGARTALA – Ashok Bhattacharjee, a veteran Congress leader and a stanch follower of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, died here Tuesday. He was 73.
Bhattacharjee, the only Congress leader in northeast India in whose house Indira Gandhi stayed in 1983 during her visit to Tripura, was elected to the state assembly three times till … Read : Veteran Tripura Congress leader dead.

BJP stakes claim to form Jharkhand government

RANCHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday staked claim to form the government in Jharkhand with support from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU).

BJP legislative party leader Arjun Munda met Governor M.O.H. Farook along with leaders of the JMM, AJSU, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and two independents, and handed … Read more >>>.

Malaysian Deputy PM urges country to learn economic transformation, vibrancy from India

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, has urged his country to take lessons from India and adopt Gandhian principles on how to transform the economy and become more vibrant.

He said that India has put in place a set of reforms and liberalised its economy to ensure market efficiency and better response … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Malaysian Deputy PM urges country to learn economic transformation, vibrancy from India.

Oz PM Julia Gillard to form government following two key Independents’ support

CANBERRA – Two NSW Independent MPs, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, have backed Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s Labor party to form the government, thereby giving her party a one-seat majority, two weeks after elections produced the first hung parliament in 70 years.

The third MP, Bob Katter, earlier announced his support to the Coalition.

According …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Abbas says he’s asked US to intervene in dispute with Israel over settlement restrictions

Abbas asks US to step into settlement dispute

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he has asked the U.S. to settle a dispute with Israel over settlement expansion that is threatening to derail Mideast peace talks.
Israel’s 10-month partial freeze on new construction in West Bank settlements ends Sept. 26, and Israeli officials have … Read : Abbas says he’s asked US to intervene in dispute with Israel over settlement restrictions.

BJP set to form government in Jharkhand

RANCHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today decided to stake claim to form a government with the support of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the All Jharkhand Student’s Union (AJSU) in Jharkhand, which is currently under President’s rule.

“The party has decided to form a new government. Now, the BJP Legislature Party will elect a …. Original article  : BJP set to form government in Jharkhand.

Julia Gillard to retain power in Australia

SYDNEY – Australia’s incumbent Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who Tuesday won the support of two independent MPs to reach the half-way mark in parliament, is all set to form a minority government that will end a 17-day political impasse in the country.

The independents’ support gives Gillard, the country’s first woman prime minister, the narrowest of … Read more : Julia Gillard to retain power in Australia.

US expects to spend billions on Afghanistan training long after drawdown of its forces

US expects to spend big in Afghanistan for years

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government’s financial commitment to Afghanistan is likely to linger and reach into the billions long after it pulls combat troops from the country, newly disclosed spending estimates show.
The United States expects to spend about $6 billion a year training and supporting Afghan troops …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US expects to spend billions on Afghanistan training long after drawdown of its forces.

BJP-JMM join hands to form government in Jharkhand

RANCHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) joined hands to stake claim to form the government in Jharkhand, with Arjun Munda being chosen the BJP legislative party leader Tuesday so as to become chief minister.

The parties will meet Governor M.O.H. Farook at 1 p.m. to stake claim. … Read more >>.

Group sees mixed results in Obama administration efforts to reduce government secrecy

Mixed report on efforts to open the government

WASHINGTON – A group that opposes secrecy in government says the federal government significantly reduced its backlog of document requests from the public last year, but also slowed its pace of opening previously confidential material to public view.
A report Tuesday from OpenTheGovernment.org said the government’s record is mixed, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Group sees mixed results in Obama administration efforts to reduce government secrecy.

Munda chosen BJP legislative party leader

RANCHI – Arjun Munda has been chosen as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) legislative party leader in Jharkhand, paving the way for him to become chief minister of the state for a second time.

“Arjun Munda has been elected party leader and now we will go to the governor to stake claim to form the government,” … Original source on Gaea Times at : Munda chosen BJP legislative party leader.

Nepal government to probe Chinese bribe scandal

KATHMANDU – Ahead of the seventh round of vote Tuesday to elect new premier, Nepal’s caretaker government said it would form a committee to investigate the scandal about the opposition Maoist party allegedly seeking millions of rupees from a “friend” in China to buy MPs’ votes.

In a belated reaction to media reports about an audio [..] Read the original article: here.

Dhaka’s new policy to protect `sensitive’ industries

DHAKA – Bangladesh’s National Industrial Policy 2010 aims to protect “sensitive, vulnerable industries” while supporting both the public and the private sector.
The list of sensitive and vulnerable industries was not made public.
The cabinet Monday approved the policy draft that drew mixed reactions from the industrial and financial institutions.
The policy targets … Read more : Dhaka’s new policy to protect `sensitive’ industries.

Julia Gillard set to form new government in Australia

SYDNEY – The ruling Labor in Australia has won the support of two independent MPs to get the numbers to form a minority government, paving the way for Julia Gillard to continue as prime minister.

The independents, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, announced their decisions, with Oakeshott being the last to signal his position to back …. Original article  : Julia Gillard set to form new government in Australia.

BJP, JMM join hands again, Arjun Munda likely at helm

RANCHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have once again joined hands in Jharkhand to stake claim to form the government, with Arjun Munda likely to be the next chief minister, sources say.

They will meet Jharkhand Governor M.O.H farook at 1 p.m. to stake claim. Jharkhand has been under President’s … Original source on Gaea Times at : BJP, JMM join hands again, Arjun Munda likely at helm.

Presidents and their No. 1 best-sellers

Presidents and their No. 1 best-sellers
Presidents and their books that reached No. 1 on The New York Times best-seller list, the dates they reached the top and the numbers of weeks they were No. 1 (not necessarily consecutive weeks).

Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Crusade in Europe” (Doubleday, 1948), Dec. 26, 1948 (11)
John F. Kennedy, “Profiles in Courage” … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Presidents and their No. 1 best-sellers.

Obama: They talk about me like a dog

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama has caused quite a flutter by accusing his Republican opponents of talking about him “like a dog” at a rally to launch his embattled Democratic party’s election campaign.
“Some powerful interests who had been dominating the agenda in Washington for a very long time and they’re not always …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Independent lawmaker says he will support Australia’s conservative Liberal Party

Australian independent to support Liberal Party

CANBERRA, Australia – One of Australia’s kingmaker independent lawmakers said Tuesday he will support opposition leader Tony Abbott’s conservative coalition after inconclusive elections, bringing the conservatives closer to forming a minority government.
Following Bob Katter’s decision, Abbott still needs the support of two more independents if his Liberal Party-led coalition is …. Read the original article  : Independent lawmaker says he will support Australia’s conservative Liberal Party.