Political News – Newsletter for November 24, 2010

Prince William and Kate Middleton to marry next April

LONDON – Britain’s Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton are to be married April 29 at Westminster Abbey in London, St James’ Palace announced Tuesday.

The wedding day, a Friday, will be a public holiday, a statement from Downing Street said. Prince William and Middleton, both aged 28, announced their engagement last week.
The …. Source  : Prince William and Kate Middleton to marry next April.

‘NDA will win in Bihar, Congress won’t touch double-digits’

LUCKNOW – The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would return to power in Bihar, and the Congress’ strength would not reach “double digits” despite the “hard work” of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shahnawaz Hussain said Tuesday.

“It is going to be a clean sweep for us. … Read more »»».

Key Western donors rap Nepal over political stalemate

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s major Western donors Tuesday rapped the country’s political parties for their inability to form a new government, even five months after the prime minister quit under Maoist pressure, saying it has a negative impact on development works, some of which have become the cash-strapped republic’s life blood.

The World Bank, Asian Development … Read more »»».

Lalu’s worries will increase after Bihar poll results: Nitish Kumar

PATNA – With the counting of votes for 243 Bihar Assembly seats scheduled for tomorrow, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday asserted that the poll results would add to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s troubles.

“Lalu has been a poster boy … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lalu’s worries will increase after Bihar poll results: Nitish Kumar.

Surendra Sirsat appointed new Goa NCP chief

PANAJI – Surendra Sirsat has been appointed the president of the Goa unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the party said in a statement Tuesday.

The statement added that the earlier state unit president, Jose Phillip DSouza, has been relieved of his charge by party president Sharad Pawar.
DSouza had earned the … Original article on : Surendra Sirsat appointed new Goa NCP chief.

French tourist town to dedicate 2012 as the Year of India

NEW DELHI – Saint Tropez, a picturesque town in southeast France which attracts about five million tourists annually, is all set to dedicate 2012 as the year of India – all for a love story that binds the two in history.

Claude Maniscalco, director of Saint Tropez Tourism, who addressed the media in the …. Read the original article  : French tourist town to dedicate 2012 as the Year of India.

India, Sri Lanka likely to launch defence dialogue next year

NEW DELHI – India and Sri Lanka are likely to launch a defence dialogue next year in the backdrop of the changed security situation following the decimation of the Tamil Tigers.

“The two sides are looking at starting a defence dialogue next year. It’s in an exploratory stage,” a senior official said.
The … Read more >>.

Yeddyurappa awaits meeting with Gadkari, party decision

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE – Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, battling allegations of favouring his close relatives with prime land, waited Tuesday to meet Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari for a decision on his fate.

On the second day of his stay in the national capital, Yeddyurappa met senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu …. Read the original article  : Yeddyurappa awaits meeting with Gadkari, party decision.

Orissa assembly adjourned over Vedanta varsity issue

BHUBANESWAR – The Orissa assembly was adjourned several times Tuesday, on the first day of its winter session, and finally for the day as the opposition disrupted proceedings and demanded resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over Vedanta varsity issue.

As soon as the question hour ended, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh raised the issue … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Orissa assembly adjourned over Vedanta varsity issue.

Statement by the Press Secretary on North Korean Shelling of South Korean island

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Earlier today North Korea conducted an artillery attack against the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong.  We are in close and continuing contact with our … Read : Statement by the Press Secretary on North Korean Shelling of South Korean island.

India a nation of immense power and presence: UAE daily

ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to a large number of Indians, recognises that “India is now a spearhead of the future markets and a nation of immense power and presence”, a leading UAE daily said in an editorial Tuesday.

“India will naturally like to see the UAE as a friend and … Read : India a nation of immense power and presence: UAE daily.

Parliament budget figures for financial year 2010-11 (To go with main parliament protest story)

NEW DELHI – The following are the official figures of the budget outlay of Indian parliament for the current financial year.

The budget (figures available on indiabudget.nic.in) for the current financial year the Lok Sabha has listed:
* Rs.67 lakh for speaker and deputy speaker
* Rs.93 lakh for leader of opposition and his/her secretariat
… Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Parliament budget figures for financial year 2010-11 (To go with main parliament protest story).

Eight days of adjournment cost nation Rs.63 crore

NEW DELHI – The eight successive days of adjournment of parliament without any major business translate into a loss of a staggering Rs.63 crore with the expenditure for each day of a session calculated at Rs.7.8 crore.

The controversial 2G spectrum allocation may have caused colossal losses to the national exchequer, but the continuing … Read : Eight days of adjournment cost nation Rs.63 crore.

Opposition seeks Chouhan’s resignation, assembly adjourned

BHOPAL – The Madhya Pradesh assembly was adjourned Tuesday, as opposition disrupted proceedings to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for corruption.

As the house met on the second day of its winter session, Congress members said many corruption cases against the chief minister were pending with the state Lokayukta (ombudsman).
“Corruption … Original article on : Opposition seeks Chouhan’s resignation, assembly adjourned.

Nearly half of US voters don’t want Obama in 2012

WASHINGTON – Nearly half of the voters in the US say President Barack Obama does not deserve a second term in 2012, revealed a poll result in the Washington Times Tuesday.

The nationwide telephone survey of 2,424 registered voters was conducted by Quinnipiac University, an independent polling institute.
According to the poll, 49 percent of … Original article on : Nearly half of US voters don’t want Obama in 2012.

13 orphans of Delhi house collapse assured special care

NEW DELHI – Paying homage to those who lost their lives in the east Delhi building collapse last week, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday said that the government would take special care of the 13 children orphaned in the accident.

“The government is concerned about the children who were orphaned after the building collapsed in …. Source article  : 13 orphans of Delhi house collapse assured special care.

BJP wants Delhi house panel probe in CWG lapses

NEW DELHI – The Delhi assembly witnessed uproarious scenes Tuesday on the opening day of the winter session with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding a house panel probe into the state government’s alleged lapses in the organisation of the Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Soon after the house paid homage to the victims of the …. Original article  : BJP wants Delhi house panel probe in CWG lapses.

Musharraf asked to answer ‘32 questions’ over Benazir murder case

LAHORE – The investigation into former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination has been extended to former president Pervez Musharraf, and a questionnaire carrying 32 questions has been sent to him in this regard, a TV channel reported on Monday.

According to … Read more : Musharraf asked to answer ‘32 questions’ over Benazir murder case.

Germany reiterates support for India in UN

NEW DELHI – Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit next month, Germany Tuesday reiterated its support to India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

“We are fully behind the G4 (the alliance among Brazil, Germany, India and Japan). Germany supports India in the UNSC and India also supports …. Read the original article  : here.

Nitish Kumar rejects exit poll results

PATNA – Even as exit polls predict a clean sweep for the Janata Dal(U)-Bharatiya Janata Party combine in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday rejected the forecast saying that they may not always be right.

Talking to reporters in Patna a day before the assembly election results are to be declared, Nitish Kumar said the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Nitish Kumar rejects exit poll results.