Political News – Newsletter for December 18, 2010

BJYM to hoist tricolour in Srinagar

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Saturday said it will embark on a “national unity march” from Kolkota Jan 12 and hoist the tricolour in Srinagars Lal Chowk on the Republic Day.

BJYM president Anurag Thakur said the march will commence on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
We will … Read more : BJYM to hoist tricolour in Srinagar.

Uma Bharti says she can be Rahul’s ‘guru’

LUCKNOW – Janshakti Party chief Uma Bharti Saturday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not to be guided by party colleague Digvijay Singh and suggested she can be a “better guru” to him.

Uma Bharti was reacting to observations by Gandhi about “saffron terror” in his reported communication with US ambassador Timothy Roemer.
“It appears that … Original article on : Uma Bharti says she can be Rahul’s ‘guru’.

Congress 83rd plenary session begins in New Delhi

NEW DELHI – The 83rd plenary session of the Congress party began Saturday here with party president Sonia Gandhi chairing a committee to oversee the political, economic and foreign affairs resolutions.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the meeting along with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and party treasurer Motilal Vora at the …. Original article  : Congress 83rd plenary session begins in New Delhi.

My parents didn’t want me to marry Rajiv, said Sonia

NEW DELHI/LONDON – Congress president Sonia Gandhi candidly admitted to the California governor’s wife that her parents were against her marriage with Rajiv Gandhi, US embassy cables provided by WikiLeaks reveal.

Gandhi also told Maria Shriver, wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, in August 2006 that she would “write a book someday with the whole story” as …. Original article  : My parents didn’t want me to marry Rajiv, said Sonia.

Berlusconi buys 37 gold rings for his female MPs

LONDON – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has bought 37 gold rings – one for each of his female MPs.

The 74-year-old ordered the specially made 1,193-pound rings and they were given to female politicians as part of his annual Christmas gift, reports the Telegraph.

The rings were designed by jeweller Recarlo, who are based at … Read more >>.

Jharkhand government skips winter session

RANCHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Arjun Munda government in Jharkhand has skipped the winter session of the assembly attracting criticism not only from the opposition but also from within the ruling party.

This is the first time that the Jharkhand government has not convened the winter session.
A leader in the … Read more >>.

WikiLeaks cable reveals Berlusconi’s efforts to avoid Bono tongue-lashing

LONDON – A confidential US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks has revealed how Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi considered increasing foreign aid budget to avoid a ‘tongue-lashing’ from Irish rock hero Bono.

In the leaked cable, William Meara, the economic adviser at the US embassy in Rome, said that despite budget cuts and ‘with its 2009 … Read more »»».

Shiv Sena advocates strong ties with China to ‘neutralize’ Pakistan

MUMBAI – The Shiv Sena Saturday advocated strong friendship with China if India wanted to ‘neutralize’ Pakistan and also secure a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

In an editorial in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’, the Sena said that it is high time India realises that the US will not budge over crucial issues … Read : Shiv Sena advocates strong ties with China to ‘neutralize’ Pakistan.

WikiLeaks exposes US interference in India: CPI-M

NEW DELHI – The US embassy cables from here leaked by WikiLeaks provide “a revealing picture of Indo-US relations and the extent of US interference in India’s domestic political affairs”, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said Saturday.

“The manner in which the US embassy intervened to influence Indian political parties and opinion makers on …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘China worried over South Korean military exercise plans’

SEOUL – China has said it was concerned over South Korean plans to hold artillery exercises on an island that recently came under attack by North Korea, a media report said Saturday.

China urged restraint and expressed its worries over the day of live-firing exercises scheduled for between Dec 18 and 21, the Yonhap News …. Original source  : ‘China worried over South Korean military exercise plans’.

Manmohan needs to assert his authority as PM (Comment)

Few would have thought that the Manmohan Singh government would be floundering in the dark only a year after the second successive general election victory of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Instead, it was believed that with a higher majority and in the absence of the obstructionist Left parties, it would be able to …. Source article  : Manmohan needs to assert his authority as PM (Comment).

American diplomats do what Indian diplomats do: US

WASHINGTON – Denying that Washington was interfering in India’s internal affairs as alleged by some Indian political parties, the US has said that American diplomats do in India what Indian diplomats do in the US.

While declining to address the substance of India related WikiLeaks cables, State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley told reporters Friday: …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Transatlantic Economic Council Joint Statement

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

To view the Joint Statement click HERE (www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/TEC_Joint_Statement_12-17-10.pdf) .

The United States and the European Union met today as part of their annual Transatlantic Economic …. Source article  : Transatlantic Economic Council Joint Statement.

Remarks by the President and the Vice President Before Signing the Middle-Class Tax Cuts Bill

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

South Court Auditorium … Original article on : Remarks by the President and the Vice President Before Signing the Middle-Class Tax Cuts Bill.

Nominations Sent to the Senate

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Elisebeth Collins Cook, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for a term …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Readout of the President’s Meeting with Labor Leaders

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Today, the President met for over an hour with twelve leaders from some of the nation’s largest labor organizations to discuss ways to work …. Source article  : Readout of the President’s Meeting with Labor Leaders.

WikiLeaks ‘unfortunate’ for international diplomacy: Ban

NEW YORK – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday the publication of leaked US diplomatic exchanges by whistle-blower website WikiLeaks is hurting diplomacy.

“It is unfortunate that these confidential documents have been leaked,” Ban said at a news conference in New York. “The motivation on the part of the leakers will make it more …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Remarks by the First Lady at Toys for Tots Service Project

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

Bolling Air Force Base … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Remarks by the First Lady at Toys for Tots Service Project.

Remarks by the President to Children During a School Visit

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

Long Branch Elementary School, …. Source  : Remarks by the President to Children During a School Visit.

China’s firm policy to deepen Pakistan ties: Wen

ISLAMABAD – China and Pakistan are “all-weather cooperation partners” and it is Beijing’s “firm policy” to further cement and deepen strategic ties with Islamabad, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday on his arrival here on a two-day visit.

“China and Pakistan are all-weather cooperation partners. Under the complex and fluid international and regional circumstances, … Read more >>.