Political News – Newsletter for December 5, 2010

Gulf security to be focus of GCC summit

ABU DHABI – A two-day summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with which India has strong ties, begins here Monday with a host of issues, including security challenges to the region, likely to come up at the 31st meeting of six-nation grouping in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The GCC was … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Gulf security to be focus of GCC summit.

Hillary Clinton’s questioned Rudd ‘how can we stand up to Beijing?’: Wikileaks

WASHINGTON – Secret cables released by the whistleblower website ‘WikiLeaks’ have revealed that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had revealed America’s deep anxiety over China’s growing economic power and hold on US finances by asking Australia’s then Prime Minister as to how he dealt with his banker.

China is the largest holder …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Hillary Clinton’s questioned Rudd ‘how can we stand up to Beijing?’: Wikileaks.

Indian music is popular in South Africa: Envoy

NEW DELHI – Indian music is quite popular in South Africa, according to the Indian envoy Virendra Gupta, who feels music is one of the priority areas in the relations between the two nations.

“There is lot of interest in Indian music in South Africa. Bollywood music as well as movies are very popular. …. Read the original article  : Indian music is popular in South Africa: Envoy.

PDP to boycott Kashmir panchayat polls

JAMMU – The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced Sunday that it will boycott panchayat elections to be held on a non-party basis in Jammu and Kashmir in January 2011, saying the “conditions are not conducive”.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, addressing a meeting of party workers in Jammu, said: The conditions are not conducive … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : PDP to boycott Kashmir panchayat polls.

Pakistan, Afghanistan say leaked US cables unreliable

WASHINGTON – Pakistan and Afghanistan have dismissed the US embassy cables leaked by WikiLeaks revealing their secrets as unreliable and the work of “junior officers”.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in a joint news conference in Kabul Saturday expressed doubts on the authenticity of the cables and denied some …. Source article  : Pakistan, Afghanistan say leaked US cables unreliable.

No nation can win ‘war on terror’ sans Pak support: Gilani

KABUL – No country can win the war against terrorism without Pakistan’s help, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said.

Addressing a joint press conference after holding bilateral talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Gilani said that seeing the prevailing scenario with regard to the global war being fought on terrorism, it is impossible for …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : No nation can win ‘war on terror’ sans Pak support: Gilani.

Bangladesh’s first foreign secretary dead

DHAKA – A.F.M. Abul Fateh, Bangladesh’s first foreign secretary who was appointed after the country’s liberation in 1971, has died in London. He was 86.

Born in 1924 in Kishoreganj, Fateh joined the first batch of Pakistan Foreign Service trainees in 1949 and was sent to Paris as the third secretary in the Pakistani embassy. …. Read the original article  : Bangladesh’s first foreign secretary dead.

US cables link China to Google hacking: WikiLeaks

WASHINGTON – Chinese leaders were obsessed with the threat posed by the internet search engine Google and sought to obtain the secrets of rivals through hacking, especially of the US, the embassy cables leaked by Wikileaks have claimed.

A cable, titled “Google China Paying Price for Resisting Censorship” sent May 18, 2009, quoted a …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

French President Sarkozy to meet Manmohan Singh today

NEW DELHI – French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is on a four-day visit to India, will meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today.

The meeting is due to take place at the Prime Minister’s residence – 7, Race Course Road, and will happen over a private dinner to be hosted by Dr Singh for Sarkozy … Read more : French President Sarkozy to meet Manmohan Singh today.

Remarks by the President at the Announcement of a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Room 430

12:21 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Today I want to speak briefly about two issues that matter most to … Read more >>>.

Manmohan Singh meets President Patil

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday called on President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Saturday night and discussed various issues including the disruptions in the ongoing session of parliament and the two leaders’ foreign visits.

The meeting lasted 45 minutes.
“The two leaders discussed about the ongoing Session of Parliament, the visit … Original source on Gaea Times at : Manmohan Singh meets President Patil.

Additional Statements of Support for the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Below please see additional statements of support released for the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
“The President’s announcement is a positive development towards … Original source on Gaea Times at : Additional Statements of Support for the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement.

WikiLeaks: Britain seen as ‘paranoid’ by US

LONDON – US diplomats are amused by what they called Britain’s “paranoid” fears about the so-called special relationship between the two countries, according to documents made public by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

“This period of excessive UK speculation about the relationship is more paranoid than usual — This over-reading would often be humorous, if it were …. Original article  : WikiLeaks: Britain seen as ‘paranoid’ by US.

Statement by the Press Secretary on H.J.Res. 101

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

On Saturday,December 4, 2010, the President signed into law:

H.J.Res. 101, which provides FY 2011 appropriations through Saturday, December 18, 2010, for continuing projects and …. Read the original article  : Statement by the Press Secretary on H.J.Res. 101.

UAE helps expatriates reconnect with home countries

Cairo, Dec 4 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates does its best to help Arab expatriates reconnect with their home countries, a minister said Saturday.

In an address made before the first Arab expatriates conference which opened here Saturday, Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash said like other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, the UAE …. Read the original article  : UAE helps expatriates reconnect with home countries.

Orissa probes if chopper flew over tiger reserve

BHUBANESWAR – A probe has been ordered into the allegation that a Biju Janata Dal MP flew a chopper over Orissas Satkosia Tiger Reserve violating green laws, an official said Saturday.

Chief Wild Life Warden P.N. Padhi has asked his local officials to investigate and submit a report soon after a newspaper reported the alleged …. Original article  : Orissa probes if chopper flew over tiger reserve.

Corruption plagues central government, says Forward Bloc

KOLKATA – The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging corruption in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

AIFB general secretary Debabrata Biswas also ridiculed UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, calling her the de-facto prime minister of the country.
“Whenever I go out of India, people say …. Read the original article  : Corruption plagues central government, says Forward Bloc.

Sarkozy says he is great admirer of Dr. Manmohan Singh

BANGALORE – French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Saturday that he is a great admirer of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who is committed to peace, development and eradication of poverty in the country.

Addressing over 500 scientists, captains of industry and students at the Indian Space Research Origination (ISRO) here, Sarkozy said whenever the Prime … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sarkozy says he is great admirer of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

India denies putting all n-reactors under safeguards

NEW DELHI – India Saturday said it voted for a proposal to create a fuel bank by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but asserted that in doing so, it has not put all its nuclear reactors under safeguards.

“There is no question of India agreeing to put all its n-reactors under safeguards, said … Read this article on Gaea Times at : India denies putting all n-reactors under safeguards.

PayPal blocks donations to WikiLeaks

BERLIN – PayPal, the online payments service, has blocked donations to WikiLeaks and to a German foundation that raises funds for it.

A statement on thepaypalblog.com dated Friday said PayPal had permanently closed the donations account because terms of service had been breached, adding that PayPal did not allow its service to be used for …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : PayPal blocks donations to WikiLeaks.