Rules relaxed for couples to marry in Delhi

NEW DELHI – The Delhi government Monday declared that a couple can register their marriage here even if they don’t have a residential address in the capital, bringing cheer for lovers in the country who face the ire of khap panchayats.

“After notification, couples can get married here easily,” said a Delhi government official. The …. Original source  : Rules relaxed for couples to marry in Delhi.

Senate to open impeachment trial against judge accused of lying under oath and taking payoffs

Senate to open impeachment trial against judge
WASHINGTON – The Senate is set to open its first impeachment trial since the 1999 case against former President Bill Clinton when it takes up a host of corruption allegations Monday against a Louisiana judge.
The House voted unanimously in March to impeach U.S. District Judge G. Thomas …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Top court official says court’s independence threatened by Turkey’s constitutional changes

Turkey: Court official in post-referendum warning

ANKARA, Turkey – A senior court official has warned that the independence of the courts could be brought into question after Turks approved changes to the constitution.
About 58 percent voted in favor of government-proposed amendments to the constitution crafted after a 1980 military coup, which includes provisions to make the …. Source article  : Top court official says court’s independence threatened by Turkey’s constitutional changes.

Japan braces for possible new leader ahead of party vote amid spat with China, economic woes

Japan leadership battle Tuesday could bring new PM

TOKYO – Japan’s prime minister faces a leadership challenge Tuesday from a veteran powerbroker in his own party that could give the country its third premier in a year. The race comes amid an escalating diplomatic spat with China and a surging yen that is battering the country’s … Original source on Gaea Times at : Japan braces for possible new leader ahead of party vote amid spat with China, economic woes.

Israel divided on decision to expel children of illegal migrants while legalizing others

Israel divided on deporting immigrant children

TEL AVIV, Israel – Israel will begin deporting families of illegal migrants in coming weeks, officials say, as an emotional debate rages over the ballooning numbers of foreign workers that some fear could threaten the country’s Jewish identity.
A decade ago, Israel began bringing in foreign workers in an effort to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Israel divided on decision to expel children of illegal migrants while legalizing others.

Candidates in RI, Calif., bolster advocate hopes of boosting ranks of gays in Congress

Gay candidates for Congress draw interest, hope

WOONSOCKET, R.I. – Just three of the 535 members of Congress are openly gay, and two Democratic candidates running for the House hope to inch that number up to five.
David Cicilline (sis-uh-LEE’-nee), mayor of Providence, R.I., is running to succeed Patrick Kennedy. In California, Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Candidates in RI, Calif., bolster advocate hopes of boosting ranks of gays in Congress.

Munda to seek trust vote in makeshift assembly Tuesday

RANCHI – With the assembly premises under renovation, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda will Tuesday seek a trust vote at a makeshift assembly in the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) here.

“The Administrative Training Institute will be used as a makeshift assembly for the trust vote Tuesday,” C.P. Singh, Jharkhand assembly speaker, told reporters.
An …. Original article  : Munda to seek trust vote in makeshift assembly Tuesday.

Clinton travels to Mideast to resume talks, encourage both sides to focus on mutual help

Clinton’s task in Mideast talks: focus on success
WASHINGTON – When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton travels to Egypt and Israel this week for the next of Mideast peace talks, the task before her is clear: Get the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to focus on how they can help the other succeed rather …. Original article  : Clinton travels to Mideast to resume talks, encourage both sides to focus on mutual help.

Gilani urges international community for more help for Pak flood victims

JAMPUR – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has reiterated his appeal for more help from the international community to carry out relief and rehabilitation efforts in the flood affected country.

Gilani was addressing the media after visiting flood-hit areas in Jampur city in Punjab province. …. Read the original article  : Gilani urges international community for more help for Pak flood victims.

Voting in Karnataka by-polls gets under way

BANGALORE – Around 15 percent of over 350,000 eligible voters had cast their ballots in the first four hours of polling Monday in the two assembly by-polls in Karnataka, an election official said here.

“The polling process is picking up after a dull start and around 15 percent of 210,000 voters in Gulbarga South and 177,000 …. Read the original article  : Voting in Karnataka by-polls gets under way.

Telangana activists stone Naidu’s convoy

HYDERABAD – Telangana activists Monday hurled stones at Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N. Chandrababu Naidu’s convoy in the region’s Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh police said.

Four people, including a police constable, were injured in the violence at Pargi, about 70 km from here.
Naidu escaped to safety as his driver sped the car away to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Telangana activists stone Naidu’s convoy.

Omar meets Chidambaram, Sonia

NEW DELHI – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday met Home Minister P. Chidambaram and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi to apprise them of developments in the violence-hit valley.
The meetings came hours before the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on Kashmir situation Monday evening.
“The chief minister …. Original source  : Omar meets Chidambaram, Sonia.

Japan’s foreign minister apologizes to visiting group of US POWs, says treatment was brutal

Japan foreign minister apologizes to US POWs

TOKYO – Japan’s foreign minister has apologized to former World War II prisoners of war who are visiting from the United States and says they were treated inhumanely.
The six POWs and relatives of two who died who were in Japan on Monday are the first group of U.S. POWs …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Japan’s foreign minister apologizes to visiting group of US POWs, says treatment was brutal.

Rumours of Quran desecration in US fuel Kashmir protests

SRINAGAR – As 24X7 curfew continued in major towns of the Kashmir Valley, protests took a new turn Monday with people taking to the streets following rumours that the Quran had been desecrated in the US.

Hundreds of villagers from densely populated rural areas in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district started taking out processions Monday morning shouting …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

CAPITAL CULTURE: DC mayor, a change candidate before Obama, in tough re-election bid Tuesday

CAPITAL CULTURE: DC mayor’s fall from public favor
WASHINGTON – Before Barack Obama there was Adrian Fenty: a young, energetic, biracial lawyer and Democrat looking to fill a top political post in Washington.
Two years before Obama was elected the yes-we-can president, it was Fenty who captivated the nation’s capital, becoming the youngest-ever …. Source  : CAPITAL CULTURE: DC mayor, a change candidate before Obama, in tough re-election bid Tuesday.

Japan braces for possible new leader ahead of party vote amid territorial dispute with China

Japan leadership duel nears vote amid China spat

TOKYO – Japan braced for yet another new leader ahead of Tuesday’s ruling party vote that pits the prime minister against a veteran lawmaker known as a backroom powerbroker. The race comes amid an escalating diplomatic spat with China and a surging yen that is battering the country’s … Read more >>.

Senate hopeful Rand Paul says Republicans have taken ‘easy way out’ by failing to cut spending

Paul says GOP shares blame for deficits
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kentucky Senate hopeful Rand Paul has chided fellow Republican politicians for contributing to the nation’s budget deficit in a speech to tea party activists in his hometown.

Paul told the gathering in Bowling Green on Sunday evening that Republicans “have taken the easy way out” in … Read more : Senate hopeful Rand Paul says Republicans have taken ‘easy way out’ by failing to cut spending.

Clinton, rallying Ohio Democrats, says ‘game films’ show Dems best choice to improve economy

Clinton in Ohio: Game films show Dems best choice
CINCINNATI – Former President Bill Clinton told supporters on Sunday evening that studying “game films” shows Democrats are best able to improve the economy.
Clinton played on football analogies in a speech to hundreds of people packing a Cincinnati auditorium on the first day …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Clinton, rallying Ohio Democrats, says ‘game films’ show Dems best choice to improve economy.

Top Dem. strategists downplay GOP success in pre-midterm polling during Iowa Sen. Harkin event

Dem. strategists downplay GOP edge in recent polls
INDIANOLA, Iowa – Two top Democratic strategists said Sunday that President Barack Obama has the nation moving in the right direction, downplaying polls that suggest Republicans have an edge heading into November’s midterm election.
White House adviser David Axelrod and David Plouffe, Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Top Dem. strategists downplay GOP success in pre-midterm polling during Iowa Sen. Harkin event.

Guinea presidential campaigns temporarily suspended after violence kills 1; elections still on

Violence halts Guinea presidential campaigns

CONAKRY, Guinea – Presidential campaigns in Guinea have been temporarily suspended after violence between rival campaign supporters left one person dead, a government official said Sunday.
Telecommunications Minister Talide Diallo also said 54 people were wounded when rival political parties clashed after a campaign event in the capital Saturday. That figure more …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Guinea presidential campaigns temporarily suspended after violence kills 1; elections still on.