Omar’s speech triggers ruckus in house, BJP member hurt

SRINAGAR – A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and a policeman were injured Thursday as chaos erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly with opposition members disrupting proceedings over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s speech a day earlier.

A day after Abdullah said in the assembly that “the state has acceded through an agreement to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Omar’s speech triggers ruckus in house, BJP member hurt.

Republican allies make Colorado a top target for midterm gains

GOP allies make Colo. a top target
DENVER – This election season has brought a torrent of campaign spending from outside interest groups, and nowhere is the spending on better display than in Colorado.

Interest groups have been flooding Colorado with a level of advertising that goes well beyond the typical election year bombardment. Colorado has become … Read more >>.

Notification issued for fourth phase of Bihar polls

PATNA – The notification for the fourth of the six phases of the Bihar state assembly elections was issued Thursday.

In the fourth round due Nov 1, polling will be held in 42 of the 243 assembly constituencies.
Bihar will elect the 243-member assembly in staggered polling that begins Oct 21 and ends Nov …. Original article  : Notification issued for fourth phase of Bihar polls.

Radical Islam has ‘outspent, outmanoeuvred, out-strategised’ democracies: Blair

NEW YORK – Radical Islamist extremists have “outspent, outmanoeuvred and out-strategised” democracies around the world, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has claimed.

Speaking in New York to thinktank, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Blair said that warnings of 26/11 Mumbai-style terror plots against Europe should remind people that they remained under threat.

He said …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Radical Islam has ‘outspent, outmanoeuvred, out-strategised’ democracies: Blair.

Chaos in J-K Assembly over Omar Abdullah’s speech

NEW DELHI – There was uproar in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday after the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National Panthers Party MLAs tried to storm into the well of the House over a speech delivered by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the prevailing law and order situation in Kashmir.

Omar Abdullah had … Original article on : Chaos in J-K Assembly over Omar Abdullah’s speech.

“It’s better to leave Musharraf to himself”: Gilani

ISLAMABAD – While most Pakistani politicians want to see former military ruler Pervez Musharraf behind the bars on his return to the country, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has taken an entirely different stand by advising legislators to leave the former president “to himself.”

“I have told him (the opposition leader) privately, and say it again, …. Read the original article  : “It’s better to leave Musharraf to himself”: Gilani.

US envoy apologises to Pakistan for helicopter raid

ISLAMABAD – US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson has formally extended an apology to Islamabad for a helicopter raid on a security check post in the country that killed three personnel.

A NATO helicopter fired gunshots at the check post of the paramilitary Frontier Scouts Sep 30 alongside the Afghan border.
At least three …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : US envoy apologises to Pakistan for helicopter raid.

Will tide over political crisis, says Yeddyurappa

KANNUR – Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, whose government is fighting for survival, Thursday said the crisis would be soon over and he would win the confidence in the legislative house.

“I am sure that we will be able to bring back those legislators who are now against us. We will win the confidence … Read more »»».

Afghan peace council holds inaugural session

Afghan peace council holds inaugural session

KABUL, Afghanistan – Calling the meeting a “source of hope” for the Afghan people, President Hamid Karzai on Thursday hosted the inaugural session of a new peace council set up to guide efforts to reconcile with the Taliban and other insurgent groups.
Karzai has long called on insurgents to renounce violence, … Read : Afghan peace council holds inaugural session.

Stumping for Democrats, Obama warns party base to avoid ’sulking’

Obama to campaign in Maryland, Illinois
WASHINGTON – Campaigning for Democrats in a string of blue states, President Barack Obama is warning his party’s rank-and-file of the dangers of “sulking and sitting back.”

The day after raising cash for Democrats in New Jersey, Obama is headed Thursday to a rally for Gov. Martin O’Malley in Maryland and … Read more >>>.

POLITICAL INSIDER: Conservative family group goes after 5 Democrats in ads

POLITICAL INSIDER: Conservative group airs ads

WASHINGTON – A conservative organization is running ads against five incumbent House Democrats, saying voters need to stop them from expanding the size of government.
Reps. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, Betsy Markey of Colorado, Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire, John Boccieri of Ohio and Tom Perriello of Virginia are the Family …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : POLITICAL INSIDER: Conservative family group goes after 5 Democrats in ads.

Dengue and swine flu! Bihar set for virulent poll campaign

PATNA – Dengue vs swine flu. No, that’s not a question on which is the more threatening disease but perhaps the choice facing the Bihar voter with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad comparing the Congress to the aedes mosquito that causes dengue and the latter retorting that he was like the swine flu …. Source  : Dengue and swine flu! Bihar set for virulent poll campaign.

AP sources: US, Palestinian and Israeli officials say impasse over housing might be broken

AP sources: All hopeful Mideast talks can go on

WASHINGTON – U.S., Israeli and Palestinian officials are hopeful they can break an impasse that has threatened to kill new U.S.-brokered Mideast peace talks before they really begin.
A U.S. official close to the negotiations said Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems likely to cut a … Read more : AP sources: US, Palestinian and Israeli officials say impasse over housing might be broken.

Bihar polls: Notification for fourth phase issued

PATNA – The notification for the fourth phase of the six-phased State Assembly elections in Bihar was issued here today.

Forty-two out of 243 Assembly constituencies will go to polls in this phase on November 1.

Of the 42 constituencies, polling will be held between 7 am and 3 pm …. Original source  : Bihar polls: Notification for fourth phase issued.

Ruckus over Omar speech in assembly, BJP MLA injured

SRINAGAR – There was chaos in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly Thursday as opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Panthers Party legislators tore papers and snatched mikes to protest Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s speech a day earlier.

The legislators, who gathered near the speaker’s podium, were marshalled out of the house. In the process, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ruckus over Omar speech in assembly, BJP MLA injured.

Picture of actor as Gandhi in government office kicks up row

HYDERABAD – A picture of film actor Dilip Prabhavalkar as Mahatma Gandhi at a local government office in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh has kicked up a row with the opposition seeking an apology for the alleged insult to father of the nation.

A huge picture showing “Mahatma Gandhi” behind a spinning wheel has … Read more >>>.

Karnataka crisis: Venkaiah Naidu to help resolve issues

BANGALORE – In view of the ongoing fiasco in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party has asked senior leader Venkaiah Naidu to intervene. He has been rushed to Bangalore to help resolve the issue within the state government.

Naidu is expected to mediate between Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and the rebellious MLAs, who have … Original source on Gaea Times at : Karnataka crisis: Venkaiah Naidu to help resolve issues.

12 dissident Karnataka BJP legislators in Mumbai, may go to Goa

MUMBAI – A group of 12 dissident legislators from Karnataka’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including four ministers, arrived here from Kerala early Thursday and are holed up at Mumbai Airport, party sources said.

The dozen strong group of BJP legislators had planned to travel to Shirdi in Maharashtra Thursday morning, but owing to security … Read more »».

Punjab chief minister injured after fall in bathroom

CHANDIGARH – Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was taken to a hospital here Thursday morning after he fell in the bathroom of his official residence and sustained minor injuries on the face, including near the eye.

Badal, 82, is being kept under observation by doctors of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and … Read more : Punjab chief minister injured after fall in bathroom.

NYC seeks to ban food stamp recipients from spending them on soda, other sugary drinks

NY seeks to ban sugary drinks from food stamp buys

NEW YORK – New Yorkers on food stamps would not be allowed to spend them on sugar-sweetened drinks under an obesity-fighting proposal being floated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson.
Bloomberg and Paterson planned to announce Thursday that they are seeking permission from the U.S. …. Read the original article  : NYC seeks to ban food stamp recipients from spending them on soda, other sugary drinks.