Political News – Newsletter for December 3, 2010

Musharraf allowed US drone surveillance, not strikes

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf has admitted he gave permission to carry out surveillance by the US drones to trace militant hideouts, but said he never allowed missile strike by the unmanned aircraft.

“Yes indeed, we wanted intelligence, we wanted them (the US) to locate targets,” Musharraf told Express 24/7 television channel.
The …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Musharraf allowed US drone surveillance, not strikes.

Sri Lankan minister protests against Tamil rally in London

COLOMBO – A Sri Lanakan minister and his supporters demonstrated Friday outside the British High Commission in Colombo against a London protest rally which led to the cancellation of a public appearance by President Mahinda Rajapaska.

Minister of Construction Wimal Weerawasna, who leads the National Freedom Front party, said the British government had failed to …. Original article  : Sri Lankan minister protests against Tamil rally in London.

Parliament adjourned again but some business done

NEW DELHI – The government Friday rushed through some financial bills and other papers in parliament before both houses were again adjourned till afternoon as an adamant opposition stuck to its demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the controversial 2G spectrum allotment.

This was the second disruption of the day. The Rajya …. Source article  : Parliament adjourned again but some business done.

US wrote off ex-British PM Brown for his ‘abysmal track record’: Wikileaks cables

LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was written off a year into his term by the United States, who mocked his ‘abysmal track record’ and treated his international initiatives with disdain, according to classified US diplomatic cables released by whistleblower website Wikileaks.

According to the Daily Mail, the cables reveal that Americans began sizing … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US wrote off ex-British PM Brown for his ‘abysmal track record’: Wikileaks cables.

‘10-yr-ban on politics’ claim “highly ridiculous” for politically active Nawaz: PML-N

ISLAMABAD – Denying the statement in a cable released by WikiLeaks that former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was under a ten-year ban on taking part in politics, the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has issued a detailed “fact-sheet” highlighting various political activities in which Sharif had participated during his days in exile.

“Certain political opponents and …. Read the original article  : ‘10-yr-ban on politics’ claim “highly ridiculous” for politically active Nawaz: PML-N.

Nawaz ‘disappointed’ Saudis by violating promise of abstaining from politics: WikiLeaks

ISLAMABAD – During his exile, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had promised the Saudis not to engage in any political activity, but he violated his commitment much to their disappointment, a diplomatic cable unveiled by whistle-blower website WikiLeaks has revealed.

The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US, Adel al-Jubeir, asserted that the “Saudi government (SAG) …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Nawaz ‘disappointed’ Saudis by violating promise of abstaining from politics: WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks: Afghanistan steeped in monumental corruption

WASHINGTON – A new set of leaked US diplomatic cables portray Afghan President Hamid Karzai as paranoid, with an “inability to grasp the most rudimentary principles of state-building” and paint a picture of Afghanistan steeped in corruption.

The cables sent from the US embassy in Kabul over the last two years showed corruption’s “pervasive nature, [..] Read the original article: here.

Wikileaks soon to be history, not to hit ties: US envoy

ISLAMABAD – WikiLeaks will soon become part of history and the secret diplomatic messages leaked by the whistleblower website will not affect the US relation with Pakistan, the American ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said.

“Wikileaks have been rejected by the US and it will not create any misunderstanding between Pakistan and the US,” … Read more >>.

Parliament adjourned again over JPC demand

NEW DELHI – An adamant opposition, demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the controversial 2G spectrum allotment, forced yet another adjournment of the two houses Friday. There were no signs of a breakthrough to end the impasse that has paralysed parliament for the last three weeks.

This was the 16th sitting of the …. Source article  : Parliament adjourned again over JPC demand.

Malaysian Indian Congress to have new leader after 31 years

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the country’s oldest Indian-based political party, will have a change of guard after 31 years when party chief S. Samy Vellu steps down next week.

Vellu, 74, who has been heading the party since 1979, will be formally succeeded by G. Palanivel, 61, after a farewell dinner Sunday … Original source on Gaea Times at : Malaysian Indian Congress to have new leader after 31 years.

Chinese firms in Pakistani Kashmir under scanner

NEW DELHI – The government is looking at the status of Chinese companies that have a presence in India and are also undertaking projects in Pakistan administered Kashmir, official sources said Friday.

India has always objected to Chinese companies undertaking projects in Pakistan administered Kashmir – which it says is contrary to China’s stated … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Chinese firms in Pakistani Kashmir under scanner.

US says it’s building strategic ties with both India, Pakistan

WASHINGTON – In a balancing act, the United States has said that it’s building a strategic relationships with both India and Pakistan because they both will have an impact on future course of developments in the world.

“We are building strategic relationships with both countries because they are important not just to our interests, but …. Source  : US says it’s building strategic ties with both India, Pakistan.

Assange a ‘political actor’ – not journalist: US

WASHINGTON – WikiLeaks boss Julian Assange is a “political actor” determined to undermine international diplomacy by jeopardising efforts to resolve problems across the world, the US State Department said.

“He’s not a journalist. He’s not a whistleblower,” State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said Thursday. “He is a political actor. He has a political agenda.”
“He …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Assange a ‘political actor’ – not journalist: US.

Stephen Solarz was a ‘true friend of India’: Indian envoy

WASHINGTON – Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar has expressed deep grief at the passing away of former Congressman Stephen J Solarz, a “true friend of India” who “was ahead of the curve in supporting causes dear to India.”

“It is with a great sense of loss that we bid good-bye to a true friend of India,” …. Source  : Stephen Solarz was a ‘true friend of India’: Indian envoy.

Defence, n-power will dominate Sarkozy’s India visit

PARIS – Accompanied by as many as seven of his key ministers, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will land in Bangalore Saturday morning at the start of a packed four-day India visit that is expected to be dominated by the issues of defence, nuclear power, sustainable development and culture and will take him across four cities.

[..] Read the original article: here.

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Kathryn D. Sullivan, PhD, Assistant Secretary of … Read more >>.

Remarks by the President at a Hanukkah Reception

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

East Room …. Source article  : Remarks by the President at a Hanukkah Reception.

Statement by the Press Secretary on Middle Class Tax Cuts

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

“The President continues to believe that extending middle class tax cuts is the most important thing we can do for our economy right now …. Original source  : Statement by the Press Secretary on Middle Class Tax Cuts.

Statement by NSC Spokesman Mike Hammer on the elections in C??te d’Ivoire

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

The United States calls on all parties to respect the results of Côte d’Ivoire’s November 28 election as announced today by the Independent Electoral …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Statement by NSC Spokesman Mike Hammer on the elections in C??te d’Ivoire.

Romney’s Boulevard of Presidential Dreams

Whether or not Republican former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will run for president in 2012 is still in the dark. Romney arrived at a late night television show and revealed a few things.
In his words,
If you ever see me sign up for a gig on Fox News, it’ll be a clear indication that I’ve …. Source article  : Romney’s Boulevard of Presidential Dreams.