Political News – Newsletter for February 21, 2011

Gaddafi’s son warns of bloody civil war

Tripoli, Feb 21 (IANS/AKI) Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son warned Monday that the country faced a bloody civil war if anti-government protesters refused to accept offers of reform.

Amid reports of growing opposition to Gaddafi’s rule, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said in a televised speech that his father remained in charge with the army’s backing …. Original article  : Gaddafi’s son warns of bloody civil war.

Achuthanandan’s anti-graft attack only for publicity: Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Congress party’s Kerala unit president Ramesh Chennithala Monday said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s tirades against corruption were nothing but cheap publicity stunt.

In November last year, Achuthanandan wrote a letter to union Home Minister P. Chidhamabaram demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the activities of the lottery mafia operating in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Achuthanandan’s anti-graft attack only for publicity: Congress.

Libya’s envoy to India resigns in protest

NEW DELHI -Libya’s ambassador to India Ali al-Essawi has resigned to protest his government’s crackdown on demonstrators calling for the ouster of long-time Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the BBC reported.

The BBC, on its Arabic service website, said the Libyan envoy also accused his government of deploying foreign mercenaries against the protesters.
When contacted, …. Original article  : Libya’s envoy to India resigns in protest.

Violence in parts of Hyderabad during Telangana protests

HYDERABAD – Violence rocked parts of Hyderabad Monday as pro-Telangana students went berserk, setting afire a local train, ransacking a railway station and clashing with police in several areas.

The Osmania University students’ march to the assembly building turned violent as a group of protestors set afire a Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) train coach at … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Violence in parts of Hyderabad during Telangana protests.

Protesters camp at square in Bahrain capital

MANAMA – Defiant demonstrators continued to camp at a roundabout in the Bahrain’s capital Manama as a determined protester Monday reiterated: “All the people of Bahrain, they don’t want the government of Bahrain”.

Al-Jazeera reported that hundreds of protesters were congregated at the Pearl roundabout, which has been the focal point of the unrest that …. Source  : Protesters camp at square in Bahrain capital.

PM’s interaction with television editors was a ‘wretched exercise’: Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI – All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supremo J Jayalalithaa on Monday criticized the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, saying his comments during an interaction with top television editors of the country was a ‘wretched exercise’, where he kept blaming ‘compromises’ imposed by ‘coalition dharma’ for most of the failings of the government.

Jayalalithaa, … Original source on Gaea Times at : PM’s interaction with television editors was a ‘wretched exercise’: Jayalalithaa.

Berlusconi’s ???200K gifts given to underage prostitute revealed

LONDON – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s 24 gifts worth almost 200,000 pounds given to the teenage dancer at the centre of the under age prostitution charge against him, have emerged.

Berlusconi, 74, is said to have given Karima El-Mahroug, better known as Ruby the Heart Stealer, two Rolex watches, one of which was worth 50,000 … Read more »».

‘China could have social turmoil if public governance fails’

BEIJING – China has many problems, said a Chinese daily as it warned that “in theory, it is not totally unfeasible that the nation could fall into social turmoil should its public governance fail”.

The editorial appeared in the state-run Global Times Monday, a day after protesters inspired by the popular unrest in Egypt and … Read : ‘China could have social turmoil if public governance fails’.

Bangladesh asks Canada to deport Mujib killer

DHAKA – Bangladesh has asked Canada to deport a former army colonel who is one of the six fugitive convicts in the 1975 assassination of Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni conveyed the request to her Canadian counterpart Lawrence Cannon at a meeting in Ottawa last week.
A senior foreign …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Bangladesh asks Canada to deport Mujib killer.

Libyan diplomat to China quits

CAIRO – A senior Libyan diplomat in China resigned Monday and called on his country’s army to intervene in the political unrest, Al-Jazeera said.

The diplomat, Hussein Sadiq al Musrati, resigned on air while taling to Al-Jazeera Arabic.
Musrati called on the Libyan army to intervene, and called all diplomatic staff to … Read more »».

Tackling corruption, inflation priority, says President Patil (Third Lead)

NEW DELHI – Combating inflation and tackling corruption would be among the top priorities of the government, President Pratibha Patil said inaugurating the budget session of parliament Monday.

“My government’s foremost priority will be to address frontally the concern regarding the lack of probity and integrity in public life,” Patil said in her 45-minute address …. Source  : Tackling corruption, inflation priority, says President Patil (Third Lead).

Strike balance between environment, development: Patil

NEW DELHI – India must find ways to strike an appropriate balance between environmental concerns and developmental needs, President Pratibha Patil said Monday.

“The government attaches the highest importance to the implementation of all laws relating to the protection of the environment and forests. The rapid pace of economic growth is imposing new challenges and … Read : Strike balance between environment, development: Patil.

State funding of elections being examined: President

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil Monday said the government has constituted a committee to fast-track the process of electoral reforms and a Group of Ministers (GoM) was considering issues related to state funding of elections.

“I am sure that all parties across the political spectrum support the need of bringing about such reforms,” Patil …. Read the original article  : here.

Osmania University tense as Telangana students begin march

HYDERABAD – Defying ban on gathering of people, hundreds of students of Osmania University Monday began their march to the Andhra Pradesh state assembly complex to demand a bill in parliament for carving out a separate Telangana state.

Tension prevailed at the university campus as a large number of police and paramilitary personnel were … Original source on Gaea Times at : Osmania University tense as Telangana students begin march.

Manmohan Singh hopes Budget session will be peaceful, productive

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, today said the Budget session of Parliament is very crucial and hoped the proceedings would be peaceful.

” This Budget session of Parliament is very crucial. We hope to bring some important pieces of legislation for consideration of Parliament,” he told reporters at Parliament House.

Government …. Read the original article  : here.

Andhra assembly stalled over members’ suspension

HYDERABAD – The stalemate in the Andhra Pradesh state assembly over the Telangana issue Monday continued as opposition parties stuck to their demand for revoking the suspension of five legislators.

Deputy Speaker Nadenla Manohar adjourned the house twice amid pandemonium as the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members stalled the …. Source  : Andhra assembly stalled over members’ suspension.

PM hopes budget session will be peaceful

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hoped that the budget session of parliament that began Monday would be “peaceful and productive”.

“The budget session is very crucial. (It) has to be debated, passed. We hope to bring important pieces of legislation for consideration of parliament. Our sincere hope is that this session will be …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A second Arab revolution – for a new social order (Comment)

The uprising in Egypt, and in Tunisia before it, and the current ferment in the Middle East, is much more than just a random eruption or two of public discontent with stray military dictators and corrupt politicians today. It is the commencement of the second wave of the Arab liberation movement. In the first …. Original article  : A second Arab revolution – for a new social order (Comment).

India welcomes democracy in Egypt, elsewhere: Patil

NEW DELHI – Welcoming the dawn of democracy elsewhere in the world, President Pratibha Patil Monday referred to the “momentous developments” in Egypt.

Egypt has recently seen momentous developments. As a democracy ourselves, we welcome the dawn of democracy elsewhere, she said in her address to the joint session of parliament at the beginning …. Original source  : India welcomes democracy in Egypt, elsewhere: Patil.

Egyptian man names daughter Facebook to mark revolt

LONDON – An Egyptian man has named his new daughter Facebook to mark his country’s recent revolution.

Jamal Ibrahim, who is in his 20s, named his daughter after the social networking site because he was so happy with the role played by the site in organising protests in Egyptian cities, Daily Mail reported Sunday citing …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Egyptian man names daughter Facebook to mark revolt.