Political News – Newsletter for November 14, 2010

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Tharoor fires at Arundhati Roy on Hay’s literary war ground

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Member of Parliament and writer Shashi Tharoor Sunday hit out at Arundhati Roy at the Hay Festival here, saying the Booker prize winner-activist has “gone too far to the left” and “unfortunately chooses to write about those who carry with guns”.

“Arundhati Roy has gone far too to the left like (writer-thinker) Christopher … Read more »»».

Aung San Suu Kyi calls for democracy and unity

YANGON – Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi Sunday called for unity and national reconciliation to face the nation’s challenges as she addressed thousands of supporters a day after her release from house arrest.

“We must work together,” she told about 10,000 supporters outside her National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters in Yangon. The …. Read the original article : Aung San Suu Kyi calls for democracy and unity.

Is there a China-India race in Africa? (Comment)

Once again Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted recently, while answering a journalist, that the world was large enough to accommodate the growth ambitions of both India and China. In a similar vein but speaking specifically about Africa, a senior official in India’s Ministry of External Affairs observed, at a recent seminar in Delhi, that India-Africa …. Source : Is there a China-India race in Africa? (Comment).

PM, Sonia meet Congress leaders over Raja

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi met senior party leaders here Sunday, with the opposition having stalled parliament last week to demand the ouster of Telecom Minister A. Raja over the 2G spectrum scam.

The leaders met informally in Parliament House after paying tributes to former prime minister …. Original source : PM, Sonia meet Congress leaders over Raja.

Buckingham Palace connived to keep ‘Brown at Number 10 to seal Tory-Leb Dem coalition’

LONDON – British premier David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg connived with Buckingham Palace to delay Gordon Brown’s departure from Downing Street while they did a deal to form a coalition, former cabinet minister David Laws claims in a new book.

David Laws, who stepped down in May as Treasury chief secretary after revelations …. Source article : Buckingham Palace connived to keep ‘Brown at Number 10 to seal Tory-Leb Dem coalition’.

Obama and media wars (Capital Buzz)

NEW DELHI – After talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, US President Barack Obama had remarked lightheartedly at the joint press conference that the Indian and American media were collaborating when an American journalist asked a pointed question on Kashmir. But little did he know about simmering tensions between officers handling the media from both …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Obama and media wars (Capital Buzz).

Mamata Banerjee slams Left Front over forcible land acquisition

KOLKATA – Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has slammed the Left front Government over the forcible acquisition of land in West Bengal.

Addressing a rally near Rajarhat, she said: “”Land scams have taken place in a big way at Rajarhat where the CPI (M)-led Left Front government had forcibly acquired acres after acres …. Original article : Mamata Banerjee slams Left Front over forcible land acquisition.

Nawaz is senior, can criticise government: Gilani

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif was a “senior” and has every right to criticise the government.

“We will not mind his criticism,” Gilani was quoted as saying in Lahore Saturday by the Online news agency.
The prime minister was on … Original article on : Nawaz is senior, can criticise government: Gilani.

Nation pays tribute to Pandit Nehru on his 121st birth anniversary

NEW DELHI – The nation on Sunday paid tribute to the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his 121st birth anniversary.

A series of functions are being organised across the country to mark the occasion.

In New Delhi, an all religion prayer meeting has been held at his memorial Shanti Van this … Original source on Gaea Times at : Nation pays tribute to Pandit Nehru on his 121st birth anniversary.

Strike in Bangladesh over Khaleda Zia’s eviction

DHAKA – A nationwide dawn-to-dusk strike was called by the opposition in Bangladesh Sunday over the eviction of former prime minister Khaleda Zia from the government house she has lived in since 1972.

Roads across the country witnessed very thin traffic and all educational institutions were closed, The Daily Star newspaper reported.
The strike was …. Source article : Strike in Bangladesh over Khaleda Zia’s eviction.

Bulgarian PM gifts puppy to Putin

Moscow, Nov 14 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was gifted a puppy by his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov.

The Bulgarian Karakachan puppy was given to Putin after the two countries signed a gas deal in Sofia.
The Russian premier accepted his “new family member”, hugging it close to his chest and kissing it …. Source : Bulgarian PM gifts puppy to Putin.

Berlusconi to seek confidence vote

ROME – Embattled Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he would seek a confidence vote in parliament, a day after the opposition said it would try to topple him.

Berlusconi Saturday wrote to the heads of the two chambers of parliament asking for the vote to take place following approval of the budget and …. Read the original article : Berlusconi to seek confidence vote.

US asks Israel for 90-day freeze on settlement construction

TEL AVIV – The US has urged Israel to freeze new settlement construction for 90 days with the incentive of US backing in the UN and a supply of advanced fighter planes, the Jerusalem Post reported Sunday.

The proposal is aimed at restarting peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, which have hit an impasse, …. Read the original article : here.

French prime minister resigns ahead of reshuffle

PARIS – The French government stepped down Saturday, paving the way for a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The president accepted the government’s resignation, effectively ending Prime Minister Francois Fillon’s term of office, a statement released on behalf of the premier said.
Analysts said a new head of government would be named Sunday …. Source article : French prime minister resigns ahead of reshuffle.

Both Congress, BJP angled for BSP’s support in 2004: Mayawati

LUCKNOW – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati Saturday said both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to make her align with them in 2004 but she had refused them in the “larger interest” of the her party.

“It was in the larger interest of our party … Read more : Both Congress, BJP angled for BSP’s support in 2004: Mayawati.

Prominent Tripura tribal leader dead

AGARTALA – Renowned tribal leader and former Tripura minister Rabindra Debbarma died here Saturday. He was 54.

Debbarma, the founder general secretary of the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), was elected to the state assembly four times since 1983.
The former education, power and cooperative minister (1988 to 1993) in Tripura is survived by …. Read the original article : Prominent Tripura tribal leader dead.

Clamour rises for Raja’s resignation, Congress defends him (Roundup)

NEW DELHI – Despite opposition parties mounting pressure on the government to act against Telecom Minister A. Raja over his alleged role in the allotment of 2G spectrum in 2008, the Congress Saturday defended him by saying he could not be removed over speculation linked to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report which is …. Source article : Clamour rises for Raja’s resignation, Congress defends him (Roundup).