Political News – Newsletter for January 12, 2011

Sudan independence vote at 60 percent threshold, says official

JUBA – The outcome of Southern Sudan’s landmark independence referendum will be valid as more than 60 percent of registered voters have already cast their ballots, an official from the southern ruling party said Wednesday.

Anne Itto, deputy secretary general of southern ruling party the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said around 2.3 million people … Original article on : Sudan independence vote at 60 percent threshold, says official.

Palace aide’s memoir bares China skeletons in Nepal cupboard

KATHMANDU – The controversial memoir of a former top palace aide of Nepal, that has dragged India into dispute and besmirched the images of the former royals, also bares Chinese skeletons in Nepal’s cupboard. It contends that Beijing sought to create bad blood between Nepal and India and pressured for the deployment of the army … Read : Palace aide’s memoir bares China skeletons in Nepal cupboard.

Nepal parties riven with dissent ahead of 17th PM poll

KATHMANDU – Even six months after Nepal’s Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal stepped down under pressure from the opposition Maoists, the republic’s major parties remain deadlocked in a worsening conflict for power, and indications are that the 17th round to elect a new premier Wednesday would not lead to an agreement.

The Nepali Congress, the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

North, South Korea restore hotline after eight-month

SEOUL – North Korea Wednesday reopened a Red Cross hotline with South Korea, an official in Seoul said, as Pyongyang steps up its efforts to re-engage in talks and get much-needed aid flowing again.

Officials reestablished contact in the joint truce village of Panmunjom, eight months after North Korea shut down the hotline after … Read : North, South Korea restore hotline after eight-month.

Gilani seeks constant OIC support on Kashmir issue

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has asked the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to provide constant support to it for realizing the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.

The implementation of OIC resolutions on Kashmir, he hoped will help in mitigating the plight of Kashmiri people … Read : Gilani seeks constant OIC support on Kashmir issue.

Teesta water deal an optimistic beginning: Bangladeshi daily

DHAKA – The 15-year framework deal Bangladesh and India have reached on sharing the Teesta river water marks “an optimistic beginning”, a Bangladeshi newspaper has said, calling for its early signing by the political leadership.

Calling for “a substantive follow up”, the Daily Star said in its editorial Wednesday: “The Teesta deal is definitely a … Read more »».

PM to launch Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate the nationwide celebrations to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda here today.

A national committee has been formed with the Prime Minister as chairman to oversee the celebrations. Dr. Singh will also release a book “Awakening India” which contains the selected writings …. Read the original article  : PM to launch Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations.

PM to meet RBI Governor to discuss monetary measures to curb inflation

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh will meet Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor D Subbarao over the possibility of further monetary steps to check price rise here today.

Dr Singh’s meeting with Subbarao comes ahead of RBI’s quarterly review of monetary policy on January 25.

RBI has already raised the short-term … Original source on Gaea Times at : PM to meet RBI Governor to discuss monetary measures to curb inflation.

Readout of the President’s call to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

The President spoke to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to wish him well as he continues to recover from his recent surgery, and thanked … Read : Readout of the President’s call to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

Letter from the President regarding the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE CHAIRMEN AND RANKING MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON APPROPRIATIONS,
THE CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER OF …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Letter from the President regarding the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.

Statement by the Press Secretary on President Obama meeting with the Prime Minister of Lebanon

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Tomorrow, President Obama will meet with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon to discuss U.S. support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and stability, the ongoing … Read : Statement by the Press Secretary on President Obama meeting with the Prime Minister of Lebanon.

Statement by President Barack Obama on the One Year Anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

As we mark one year since the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, we honor the memory of the quarter of a million Haitians who were … Read more : Statement by President Barack Obama on the One Year Anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti.

Zardari appoints Latif Khan Khosa as Punjab governor

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday night appointed Sardar Latif Khan Khosa as the new Punjab governor, a media report said.

The president has signed a document regarding Khosa’s appointment Tuesday night, the Pakistan Times reported quoting Farhatullah Babar, the spokesman for the president.
Khosa, a senior leader of the ruling …. Original article  : Zardari appoints Latif Khan Khosa as Punjab governor.

Remarks by Vice President Biden and President Karzai of Afghanistan After Meeting

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

Stone Building, Presidential Palace … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Remarks by Vice President Biden and President Karzai of Afghanistan After Meeting.

Russia, US begin civilian n-cooperation deal

MOSCOW – A civilian nuclear cooperation deal between Russia and the US came into force Tuesday.

The accord, which was signed in 2008 when then US president George W. Bush was in office, was put on ice for three years by the US after Russia’s invasion of Georgia that year.
“The agreement is very important …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Telangana Congress leaders demand bill for separate state

HYDERABAD – Congress leaders from Telangana Tuesday demanded that a bill be tabled in the upcoming budget session of parliament for forming a Telangana state.

However, the leaders apparently softened their stand on the issue as a meeting of party leaders here refrained from issuing any threat to resign.
The meeting passed a resolution urging …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Telangana Congress leaders demand bill for separate state.

Special functions to enrol new voters: Poll panel

BHUBANESWAR – The Election Commission of India Tuesday said it will organise special functions across the country Jan 25 to mark the enrolment of about 20 million youth in the electoral rolls.

The commission has decided to make the enrolment of the youth a national movement and organise the functions Jan 25, the commission’s golden …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Jagan juggernaut in Delhi, challenges Congress in Andhra (Second Intro Roundup)

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD – Taking his fight against the Congress to the heart of the national capital, former MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Tuesday put up a massive show of strength with 31 Andhra Pradesh legislators and two party MPs. Police arrested and freed him late at night.

Jagan, as he is popularly known, declared that he … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Jagan juggernaut in Delhi, challenges Congress in Andhra (Second Intro Roundup).

Agra students quiz Rahul Gandhi on price rise

AGRA – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday took questions on price rise and corruption from students with whom he interacted here. He also motivated them to join politics to reform the system.

Students asked general and routine questions. A few “politically incorrect” questions remained unanswered, said Desh Deepak Tiwari, a youth leader.
Questions …. Original article  : Agra students quiz Rahul Gandhi on price rise.

Linking RSS to terror is ridiculous, says Gadkari

NEW DELHI – Accusing the Congress of “never giving up” attempts to tarnish the image of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Tuesday said that linking the organisation to terror incidents was “ridiculous”.

“To say that people who committed terror incidents were motivated by Sangh is ridiculous,” Gadkari said …. Read the original article  : Linking RSS to terror is ridiculous, says Gadkari.