Political News – Newsletter for December 14, 2010

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Advani hits out at PM over spectrum row

NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging that he was ignorant of the happenings in his cabinet.

Taking on the prime minister a day after parliament’s winter session ended amid acrimony, Advani also ruled out the possibility of the opposition-government clash over the … Read more »».

Orissa legislator jumps on speaker’s table

BHUBANESWAR – A Congress legislator Tuesday jumped on the Orissa assembly speaker’s table and lay down, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over a land row.

Speaker Pradip Amat then suspended the question hour. He had earlier adjourned the house many times after Congress members created a scene over the decision to set … Original article on : Orissa legislator jumps on speaker’s table.

Pak Govt. in full control of internal situation: Gilani

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the government is in full in control of the internal situation in the country and would not allow anybody to pursue vested personal agendas, or derail the country from path of economic prosperity and sustained democracy.

According to The News, Gilani told participants at the … Read : Pak Govt. in full control of internal situation: Gilani.

Manmohan Singh says tapping of phone must be done with utmost care

NEW DELHI – Defending the government’s use of phone taps, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said these powers were necessary to deal with issues like tax evasion but it has to be exercised with care.

Addressing at the inaugural session of the India Corporate Week here, Dr. Singh said: “We are aware of … Read more >>.

Blair’s company ‘to earn 27m pounds for advising Kuwait on how to govern itself’

LONDON – Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s company is apparently set to make 27 million pounds for advising the oil-rich Kuwaiti government on how to govern itself.

Blair’s spokesman dismissed the claims as exaggerated but said a team from Tony Blair Associates will be working with the Kuwaitis for ’several years’.

The first client of Tony … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Blair’s company ‘to earn 27m pounds for advising Kuwait on how to govern itself’.

Talk of mid-term polls scare mongering: Advani

NEW DELHI – Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani said Tuesday that any talk of mid-term polls following the parliamentary logjam was “scare-mongering”.

“It is only scare-mongering. To scare the MPs and to break the opposition unity that has come about,” Advani told reporters at a National Democratic Alliance press conference.
“The mid-term … Read more >>>.

A new house for Khaleda Zia

DHAKA – Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia is to move into a seven-bedroom house in a swank diplomatic area here, her aides said a month after the government evicted her from her Dhaka Cantonment residence where she had lived for almost 40 years.

She will move into the Gulshan area on the first day … Read : A new house for Khaleda Zia.

PM does not call the shots in cabinet: Advani

NEW DELHI – Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday said the 2G spectrum scam showed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not aware of the happenings in his own cabinet.

Now, we know that the prime minister is not even aware of various things happening in his own cabinet, said Advani at … Original article on : PM does not call the shots in cabinet: Advani.

Richard Holbrooke Dies

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com)- President Barack Obama administration’s Special Representative Richard Holbrooke passed away on Monday at t George Washington University Hospital in Washington. His family and the White House officials announced the news to the media. Richard Holbrooke was in critical condition following his heart surgery on Saturday. The State Department’s spokesperson Philip J. Crowley …. Source : Richard Holbrooke Dies.

US ambassador mourns Holbrooke’s death

NEW DELHI – US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer Tuesday paid glowing tributes to Richard Holbrooke, President Barack Obama’s point man for the Afghan-Pakistan region who passed away in Washington, calling him “a consummate diplomat”.

Holbrooke was “a tireless worker with boundless energy and dedication” who sought “to bring peace, stability, and prosperity to Afghanistan and … Read more »»».

Corporate sector poised to become engine of economy growth: PM

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said India’s corporate sector is poised to become the Indian economy’s main engine of growth.

Addressing at the inaugural session of the India Corporate Week here, Dr. Singh said: “India’s corporate sector is poised to become the main engine of growth for the Indian economy. The …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Nepal to probe ex-crown prince’s gun brawl

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s government has announced a high-level inquiry into a gun brawl involving former crown prince Paras and the son-in-law of Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala after it emerged that the deposed royal was carrying an illegal firearm.

The 39-year-old controversial former heir to Nepal’s throne, notorious for his quick temper and fondness for … Read more »».

Opposition protesters at Andhra assembly held

HYDERABAD – Dozens of opposition leaders and activists were arrested for the second consecutive day Tuesday when they marched to the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly here, demanding that the government address the problems of farmers.

There was tension in the high security area as protesters, including legislators, tried to advance towards the assembly building.
Led …. Original article : Opposition protesters at Andhra assembly held.

Nepal Maoists win battle for special parliament session

KATHMANDU – Failing to return to power despite keeping up pressure tactics for over a year, Nepals opposition Maoist party tasted its first triumph since the fall of its government in 2009 with their campaign for a special parliament session finally yielding fruit.

Nepals parliament, prorogued since Nov 19 after the Maoists attacked Finance Minister … Read more : Nepal Maoists win battle for special parliament session.

“Don’t touch my turban,” Hardeep Puri tells US security

NEW YORK – Amid a brewing row over ‘pat down’ screening of diplomats, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Hardeep Puri has confirmed that he was briefly held up at a US airport last month, but there was no pat down.

“No pat down took place” though Airport security officials at Austin, Texas did … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : “Don’t touch my turban,” Hardeep Puri tells US security.

US trouble shooter Richard Holbrooke is dead (Third Lead)

WASHINGTON – Richard C. Holbrooke America’s high profile diplomatic trouble shooter and Obama administration’s point man in the war torn Afghan-Pakistani region has died after surgery to repair a tear in his

aorta. He was 69.
One of the world’s most recognizable diplomats, Holbrooke’s five decade long career spanned from … Read more »»».

Omar Abdullah survives the test – for now (News Analysis)

SRINAGAR – Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s seat looked shaky during the five-month unrest in the Kashmir Valley that claimed 110 lives. But he has emerged stronger, partly due to the confidence shown in him by the central government and partly due to the patience of ordinary Kashmiris wearing thin with separatist shutdowns.

Although Abdullah tried … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Omar Abdullah survives the test – for now (News Analysis).