Political News – Newsletter for February 2, 2011

Election Commission begins Assam visit

GUWAHATI – The full bench of the Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi arrived here Wednesday for a two-day visit to review the preparations for Assam’s assembly elections.

We will be holding meetings with political parties, civil and police officials besides influential organisations and teachers, Quraishi told reporters.
He is accompanied by …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Nepal PM poll to see three-cornered fight again

KATHMANDU – As Nepals parliament goes to election Thursday to choose a new prime minister, the stage is set for a three-cornered fight once again with the same politicians who had fought for seven months last year.

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda rode roughshod over the murmured dissent in his own party to stake … Original source on Gaea Times at : Nepal PM poll to see three-cornered fight again.

Chidambaram says didn’t mislead Sushma Swaraj on Thomas

NEW DELHI – Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday denied allegations by opposition leader Sushma Swaraj that he “misled” the committee that selected P.J. Thomas as central vigilance commissioner (CVC) last year.

I take exception to the statement by Swaraj that I ‘misled the selection committee’ and told the committee that Thomas had been ‘acquitted’,” …. Source article  : Chidambaram says didn’t mislead Sushma Swaraj on Thomas.

Mubarak ready to quit, but vows to complete term (Second Lead)

CAIRO/WASHINGTON – Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said he would not run for re-election but defied the call to quit – the principal demand of protesters who have scaled up their movement and held the ‘march of a million’. Just hours later, President Barack Obama said the transition in Egypt must begin now.

In …. Original article  : Mubarak ready to quit, but vows to complete term (Second Lead).

Gordon Brown ‘ordered’ Zardari to “take Osama bin Laden out”: WikiLeaks

LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had ordered Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to have al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden killed, a diplomatic cable unveiled by the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks has revealed.

Apparently convinced that bin Laden was alive and hiding in Pakistan, the then British Prime Minister told Zardari to “take … Original article on : Gordon Brown ‘ordered’ Zardari to “take Osama bin Laden out”: WikiLeaks.

Kerala heads for final showdown in this assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Rival fronts in the Kerala political spectrum are getting ready for a final showdown in the last session of the present Kerala assembly beginning Friday with the governor’s address.

The session ends Feb 24 and by then Kerala will get ready for the campaign to the assembly elections as the term of the … Read more »»».

Yemeni president says will not run again

CAIRO – Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has said he will not seek another term in office, broadcaster al-Arabiya reported Wednesday.

Saleh, aged 64, has ruled since 1978 – first in North Yemen and since the end of the Cold War in the united Gulf country.
The Yemeni leader’s announcement, which also said he would … Read : Yemeni president says will not run again.

Gogoi admits corruption under his rule

GUWAHATI – Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Wednesday admitted that graft has taken place under his rule, but launched a counter attack claiming the two terms of main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) were also ridden by rampant corruption.

I would not say there was no corruption during our government. Yes, corruption did take place, …. Source article  : Gogoi admits corruption under his rule.

Congress leader Venkataswamy plans for Telangana Congress

HYDERABAD – Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and Telangana protagonist G. Venkataswamy Wednesday said he would float a new party if expelled from the Congress for his remarks blaming the Congress president Sonia Gandhi for electoral reverses and corruption.

“If I am expelled from the party, I will form the Telangana Congress to achieve … Read more »»».

Afghanistan president to visit India

KABUL – Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai is leaving for a two-day visit to India where he is to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior officials, his spokesman said Wednesday.

“President Karzai’s visit is aimed to discuss regional economic capacity development with the Indian authorities,” Seyamak Herawi said. “He will also meet …. Original source  : Afghanistan president to visit India.

Hosni Mubarak: End Of Reign?

CAIRO, EGYPT (GaeaTimes.com)- The political turmoil and civil unrest in Egypt and the resultant political pressure from allies has forced the President Hosni Mubarak to retreat from his earlier stance and experts predict the countdown for his ouster has started. The President who is losing support said on Tuesday that he would step down … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Hosni Mubarak: End Of Reign?.

Vladimir Putin praises female students who posed for ‘erotic’ calendar

SYDNEY – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is all praise for twelve female students who posed for an “erotic” calendar to honour his 58th birthday.

Putin told supermodel Naomi Campbell that they were “courageous”, reports British GQ magazine.

“As student journalists, they couldn’t fail to understand what might have been said to them after doing this,” the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Vladimir Putin praises female students who posed for ‘erotic’ calendar.

Gillard rejects Assange’s legal help plea over Wikileaks disclosure of US cables

CANBERRA – A day after Wikileaks founder Julian Assange sought the Australian government’s help over the ongoing secret US diplomatic cables leak fiasco, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said she would not intervene in the journalist’s legal obligations.

Gillard, however, said that Assange is free to return to Melbourne “unless there is some legal obligations keeping …. Source article  : Gillard rejects Assange’s legal help plea over Wikileaks disclosure of US cables.

West Bengal CM warns of immediate action against Trinamool-Maoist nexus

KOLKATA – West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has warned that action would be immediately taken on the nexus between the Trinamool Congress and the Maoists.

“The state government will no longer wait. We will take action immediately on the basis of evidences of Trinamool’s link with the Maoists which are tumbling out one after the …. Original source  : West Bengal CM warns of immediate action against Trinamool-Maoist nexus.

Gujarat cabinet expanded, six new ministers sworn in

GANDHINAGAR – Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday expanded his cabinet with the swearing in of six new ministers of state.
…. Original source  : Gujarat cabinet expanded, six new ministers sworn in.

Egypt unrest: Pakistan to send special plane for citizens

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan will send a special aircraft to Cairo to bring back its nationals, including tourists and some embassy staff, following the political upheaval in Egypt.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday directed the defence ministry to dispatch a special aircraft to Cairo to bring back the families and non-essential staff of Pakistan embassy … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Egypt unrest: Pakistan to send special plane for citizens.

Resignation of Hindu lawmaker alarming, says Pakistani daily

ISLAMABAD – The resignation of a Hindu lawmaker who had received threats is “alarming”, said a Pakistani daily, adding that “no minority, irrespective of caste, creed or religious beliefs, is safe” in the country.

An editorial in the Daily Times Wednesday said: “On Saturday the resignation of a Hindu member of the Sindh Assembly, Ram …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Resignation of Hindu lawmaker alarming, says Pakistani daily.

New Zealand PM John Key stands by ‘hot’ Liz Hurley comment

WELLINGTON – New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who has been criticized for calling British actress and model Liz Hurley ‘hot’, has brushed off claims that he’s a sexist.

The British tabloid, the Daily Mail, picked up Key’s comments after he listed glamour-girl Hurley among his celebrity crushes during an interview on Radio Sport last week.

He [..] Read the original article: here.

Italian women to come together for ‘knicker-throwing’ Berlusconi protest

LONDON – As if his sexcapades aren’t enough to embarrass him, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is about to face more – a group of women plan to throw pairs of knickers at his mansion in protest of his involvement in an alleged prostitution ring.

The bizarre protest is against his apparent obsession with scantily clad … Read more »»».

Ethnic Indians among Malaysia’s title awardees

KUALA LUMPUR – M. Kayveas, who heads the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), a constituent of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), is among the ethnic Indians who are recipients of Malaysian honours.

Already a Datuk (a title conferred by the government), he received the Seri Mahakota Wilayah (SMW) award that would carry the … Read more : Ethnic Indians among Malaysia’s title awardees.