Political News – Newsletter for January 18, 2011

Expecting positive steps from government on JPC: Nitin Gadkari (Interview)

NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari says he expects “some positive steps” from the government to break the deadlock over a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scandal and feels a a way out could be found if “discussions are held in national interest”.

“We are expecting …. Source article  : Expecting positive steps from government on JPC: Nitin Gadkari (Interview).

Munda to be ruling alliance joint nominee for by-poll: Soren

RANCHI – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief and Jharkhand’s ruling alliance steering committee chairperson Shibu Soren Tuesday said that Chief Minister Arjun Munda would be the joint nominee of the alliance in the assembly by-poll scheduled Feb 10.

“Arjun Munda will be joint candidate of the ruling alliance in Kharsawa assembly by-poll,” Shibu Soren said …. Read the original article  : here.

Micheal Reagan Crticizes Ron Reagan’s Book

NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com)- In the memory of his loving father Ronald Reagan, his younger son, Ron Reagan is all set to release a new book “My Father At 100″, where he stated that his father has possible traits of Alzheimer’s disease while he was serving his post as the President of United States. However, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Micheal Reagan Crticizes Ron Reagan’s Book.

Row over indian arms supplies to Nepal continues

KATHMANDU – Despite India denying a media report that it was resuming supplies of lethal arms to Nepal’s army, the row over the issue continued in Nepal with the opposition Maoist party Tuesday lodging an objection with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The chief of the Maoist party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Tuesday … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Row over indian arms supplies to Nepal continues.

PM meets Sonia, cabinet reshuffle buzz grows louder

NEW DELHI – Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for nearly two hours amid a growing buzz about an imminent reshuffle of the union council of ministers.

Gandhi, who heads the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), met Manmohan Singh at his official 7, Race Course Road residence in New … Original source on Gaea Times at : PM meets Sonia, cabinet reshuffle buzz grows louder.

MQM introduces bill to rid Pakistan of weapons

ISLAMABAD – The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has submitted a draft bill in the National Assembly seeking to rid Pakistan of weapons so as to “restore public order in the country”.

The Deweaponisation of Pakistan Bill of 2011, a private members bill, was submitted Monday. It seeks a ban on the production, proliferation, smuggling, import … Read more >>>.

Kashmir interlocutors meet opposition leaders in Jammu

JAMMU – Aiming to reach out to all political parties active in Jammu and Kashmir, the three-member panel of Kashmir interlocutors appointed by the Central Government met senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu.

During the meeting, veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former Chief Information Commissioner M.M. Ansari discussed a …. Original article  : Kashmir interlocutors meet opposition leaders in Jammu.

Manmohan Singh discusses Maoist issue with civil society members

NEW DELHI – Seeking to find plausible measures to curtail rampant Maoist extremism in the country, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, met a delegation of academics, artistes and intellectuals here and discussed the issue.

Besides several members of the civil society, the delegation included Brattya Basu and Saoli Mitra, renowned theatre personalities from West Bengal, …. Original source  : Manmohan Singh discusses Maoist issue with civil society members.

Guessing game over who could be Silvio Berlusconi’s steady woman

LONDON – After Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi claimed that he could not have had sex with an underage prostitute as he is in a steady relationship, the guessing game is on as to who the mystery woman is.

Berlusconi, 74, had claimed in a televised address that he has been seeing the mystery woman for …. Source article  : Guessing game over who could be Silvio Berlusconi’s steady woman.

Manmohan Singh discusses Cabinet reshuffle with Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday met Congress President Sonia Gandhi amid speculation that a reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers is on the cards later this week.

Gandhi met Dr. Singh at his 7 Race Course residence. She was accompanied by her political secretary Ahmed Patel.

The meeting …. Original source  : Manmohan Singh discusses Cabinet reshuffle with Sonia Gandhi.

Dalai Lama should not retire, say Tibetans

DHARAMSALA – Urging Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, to reconsider his decision to retire, Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister in-exile of Tibet has said the Dalai Lama should not take complete retirement till their cause of Tibetan autonomy is achieved.

Talking to reporters here, Rinpoche said the Dalai Lama cannot retire as he has to lead …. Source  : Dalai Lama should not retire, say Tibetans.

Manmohan Singh a failure on economic front, says BJP

BHUBANESWAR – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his “poor economic policy” were responsible for the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari said here Tuesday.

“The country is suffering because of the poor economic policy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,” Gadkari said.
Addressing a press conference at this Orissa capital …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Maoist make new threats as foreign secretary begins Nepal visit

KATHMANDU – As Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, the first high-ranking official sent by New Delhi since Nepal entered a new stage in its peace process, begins her three-day visit Tuesday, the prospect of striking a rapport with the opposition Maoist party seems remote with the former guerrillas threatening a fresh storm.

Ahead of Rao’s … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Maoist make new threats as foreign secretary begins Nepal visit.

Prime Minister Of Italy Prostituted Young Women

MILAN, ITALY (GaeaTimes.com)- It has been alleged that Prime Minister Of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, has kept about fourteen young women, as his mistress, in some of his posh residences, all over his home town Milan. Most of these young and attractive women are from the world of glamor as reported by the media.
After the …. Source  : Prime Minister Of Italy Prostituted Young Women.

Bangladesh summons Indian envoy to protest border killing

DHAKA – Ahead of bilateral talks between their officials Tuesday, Bangladesh summoned the Indian high commissioner to lodge a formal protest against the Indian border force allegedly killing a girl crossing the border with her family.

Indian High Commissioner Rajit Mitter was summoned to the foreign office Monday for a formal protest. Dhaka termed it …. Original article  : Bangladesh summons Indian envoy to protest border killing.

Political commentator Bhabani Sen Gupta dead

NEW DELHI – Eminent political commentator, writer and novelist Bhabani Sen Gupta, also known as Chanakya Sen, died here early Tuesday. He was 89, his family said.

Sen Gupta had written a number books on political affairs, including “Rajiv Gandhi: A Political Study” and specialised on Afghanistan, Southeast Asia and on Indo-US relations.
He resigned … Original source on Gaea Times at : Political commentator Bhabani Sen Gupta dead.

Jammu leaders pitch for delimitation of seats

JAMMU – The long-pending issue of delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir has come to the fore with the government-appointed interlocutors promising the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders that they will take up the matter with the Election Commission.

The matter was raised by leaders of the BJP and … Read : Jammu leaders pitch for delimitation of seats.

SAARC to get first woman secretary general

DHAKA – The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is set to get its first woman secretary general – a 36-year-old Maldivian lawyer.

The SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu has confirmed that former lawmaker of the Maldives, Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed, will be appointed SAARC secretary general March 1, The Daily Star said, quoting diplomatic sources.
… Read more : SAARC to get first woman secretary general.

No clear leader between Obama, Republicans: poll

WASHINGTON – Ahead of a crucial vote in Congress, a new Gallup poll suggests that Americans are not clear who should have more influence over the nation’s direction in the next year – President Barack Obama or the Republicans.

Forty-five percent want Obama to have more influence, while 42 percent prefer the Republicans. This …. Original article  : No clear leader between Obama, Republicans: poll.

`Real negotiations’ may begin on UN Security Council reform: UN

NEW YORK – Negotiations among governments to reform the UN Security Council may enter a new phase this year with serious talks to meet demands to enlarge the body to include countries like India, Germany and Japan as permanent members, the UN said Monday.

Germany, Japan, India and Brazil – known as the G4 – …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : `Real negotiations’ may begin on UN Security Council reform: UN.