Political News – Newsletter for January 29, 2011

Protests continue in central Cairo

CAIRO – Protest demonstrations continued Saturday in central Cairo after the government-ordered overnight curfew expired, with the military taking charge of security after Friday’s violence.

While the atmosphere was still described as tense, the streets were calm as the Egyptian military were seen taking a non-aggressive posture as they kept watch, eyewitnesses said.
The riot … Read more >>>.

Mamata Banerjee will become first woman CM of Bengal, says survey by politicsparty.com

NEW DELHI – Mamata Banerjee will become the first woman chief minister of West Bengal with her party the Trinamool Congress (TMC) winning the 2011 assembly elections convincingly, according to politicsparty.com.

Politicsparty.com, which conducted a voters’ attitude poll, in all the 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal to understand …. Original article  : Mamata Banerjee will become first woman CM of Bengal, says survey by politicsparty.com.

Unrest continues in Cairo, say eyewitnesses

CAIRO/ISTANBUL – Unrest continued in parts of Cairo early Saturday morning despite the government-ordered curfew and military patrolling streets, eyewitness reports said.

The eyewitness accounts told of plundering of shops going on, while in two districts of Cairo, police stations were stormed by protesters, freeing the inmates.
According to an Al Jazeera television report, there … Original source on Gaea Times at : Unrest continues in Cairo, say eyewitnesses.

Indian parliamentary delegation calls off Egypt visit

NEW DELHI – A parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has postponed its five-day visit to Egypt beginning Saturday, owing to the trouble and protests in the north African country, an official said.

“Our embassy and the Ministry of External have advised us not to proceed with the visit due to … Read : Indian parliamentary delegation calls off Egypt visit.

Need to cleanse political system: Rahul Gandhi (Second Lead)

AURANGABAD – Expressing shock at a Maharashtra official being burnt alive by the oil mafia, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday said there was a need to “cleanse the political system” and urged the youth to join politics to bring about change.

“I am shocked at the Sonawane case. I do not want it to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Need to cleanse political system: Rahul Gandhi (Second Lead).

‘Blair did no trust cabinet on ‘Iraq war discussions, feared leaks

LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair did not trust his own cabinet and was “reluctant” to hold discussions with it on a proposal to go to war against Iraq fearing that details would be leaked, the UK’s top civil servant told the Chilcot Inquiry.

Though Blair has insisted that his cabinet was briefed throughout … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘Blair did no trust cabinet on ‘Iraq war discussions, feared leaks.

What Is Happening In Egypt: Asks Stunned World!

CAIRO, EGYPT (GaeaTimes.com)- The unexpected and unprecedented crackdown on Internet services in trouble torn Egypt has taken the world by storm and technology community as well as political leaders are worried about long term implications of the blackout. The Internet outage has crossed 24 hours by now and mobile services in the country has … Read more »».

BJP accuses UP Govt. of failing to maintain law and order

AGRA – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Government in Uttar Pradesh of failing miserably in maintaining law and order.

BJP workers said the State Government is working against the interest of farmers.

“Mayawati Government is against the interest of farmers and businessmen. The whole state is caught in a … Read more >>.

Berlusconi urges Italians not to pay TV licence after being slammed on shows

LONDON – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has urged millions of Italians not to pay their TV license after being slammed on a series of shows.

Berlusconi made his request after watching a TV show on Italian state TV broadcaster RAI called Annozero, with which he has clashed repeatedly, reports the Daily Mail.

Bizarrely, even before the … Read : Berlusconi urges Italians not to pay TV licence after being slammed on shows.

Give 10 years to politics to change system: Rahul to youth

AURANGABAD – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday said political parties lacked democracy and appealed to the youth to give 10 years of their life to politics to change the system.

“I assure you, after 10 years, you will be proud of your decision, and the country’s politics will take a new direction,” Gandhi said, …. Source  : Give 10 years to politics to change system: Rahul to youth.

Corruption serious, need to cleanse system: Rahul

AURANGABAD – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday expressed shock at Maharashtra official Yeshwant Sonawane being burnt alive by the oil mafia and said there was a need to act against corruption and “cleanse the political system”.

“I am shocked at the Sonawane case. I do not want it to be repeated,” Gandhi told reporters …. Read the original article  : Corruption serious, need to cleanse system: Rahul.

Political parties lack democracy: Rahul Gandhi

AURANGABAD – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday said that political parties lack democracy but urged the youth to join politics through the Congress.

“Political parties lack democracy, their doors are closed,” Gandhi said while appealing to young men and women to join his party.
Gandhi was addressing the media on the final day …. Source article  : Political parties lack democracy: Rahul Gandhi.

Give 10 years to politics, Rahul urges youth

AURANGABAD – Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday appealed to the youth to give 10 years of their life to politics if they want to see change in the country.

“I assure you, after 10 years, you will be proud of your decision, and the country’s politics will take a new direction,” Gandhi said, urging … Read more : Give 10 years to politics, Rahul urges youth.

BJP’s Kashmir yatra: provocative, self-defeating adventurism (Comment)

It is difficult to understand why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should have suddenly adopted a combative patriotic posture on Kashmir in the midst of its fairly successful campaign against the Congress on the corruption issue.

Prima facie, it is a self-defeating move. It has been criticised not only by its political opponents and …. Read the original article  : BJP’s Kashmir yatra: provocative, self-defeating adventurism (Comment).

Mubarak fires ministers, vows to stay, appeals for calm

CAIRO – Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak refused calls to step down, instead calling late Friday for his cabinet to resign amid nationwide protests.

Thousands of demonstrators, who were in the streets all day and remained past midnight in central Cairo, demanded that Mubarak step down.
“I have asked the government to resign,” Mubarak said in …. Original source  : Mubarak fires ministers, vows to stay, appeals for calm.

Remarks by the President on the Situation in Egypt

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

State Dining Room … Read : Remarks by the President on the Situation in Egypt.

Mubarak fires ministers, appeals for calm

CAIRO – Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak in the early hours of Saturday ordered the existing government and ministers to step down and promised a new leadership.

Mubarak was making his first address to his nation since anti-government protests erupted this week, appealing for calm and promising reform. But protests continued in the country even as … Read more »».

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 1/28/2011

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

James S. Brady Press … Original article on : Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 1/28/2011.

Egypt under curfew as protests continue

CAIRO – Egypt was under curfew Friday night as the government sought to put an end to nearly a week of demonstrations designed to unseat it.

Thousands of protesters ignored the order, running rampant through the street, clashing with security forces and attacking government buildings. The curfew – initially upon the cities of Cairo, Suez …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Readout of the Vice President’s Meeting with the Colombian Vice President

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Vice President Biden and Colombian Vice President Garzón met earlier today, and discussed a range of issues in U.S.-Colombia relations, which both countries are … Read more >>>.