Political News – Newsletter for February 5, 2011

Living in Cairo square, scripting a revolution

CAIRO/NEW DELHI – The sprawling ground is overflowing with people filled with hatred for Hosni Mubarak. Thousands have made it their home. The food is free. The anger palpable. Welcome to Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicentre of massive protests to oust the Egyptian president.

Even as the anti-Mubarak campaign entered the 12th day Saturday, with …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Telangana groups to launch non-cooperation movement Feb 17

HYDERABAD – Parties and groups fighting for separate statehood to Telangana Saturday announced that they will launch a non-cooperation movement from Feb 17 to press for the introduction of a bill during the budget session of parliament.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other constituents of Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), organizations … Read more : Telangana groups to launch non-cooperation movement Feb 17.

League attacks Kerala chief minister’s office

KOZHIKODE – The Indian Union Muslim League Saturday accused the Kerala chief minister’s office of conspiring to rake up the ice cream parlour sex scandal case in which the party’s leader P.K. Kunhalikutty was involved.

We have evidence to prove that a conspiracy was hatched in the office of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan …. Source  : League attacks Kerala chief minister’s office.

Orissa minister resigns over pulses scam

BHUBANESWAR – Orissa’s Woman and Child Development Minister Pramila Mallik Saturday resigned over a scandal involving irregularities in the supply of pulses to children.

Mallik submitted her resignation after coming under attack from not only the opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party but also from some ruling Biju Janata Dal leaders.
She submitted her …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Orissa minister resigns over pulses scam.

Sonia Gandhi hears public grievances in Rae Bareli

RAE BARELI – Congress president Sonia Gandhi was flooded with public complaints when hundreds of locals in her parliamentary constituency Rae Bareli discussed their grievances with her here Saturday, a party official said.

“Around 1,000 locals met Sonia Gandhi with their complaints and problems,” Congress spokesperson in Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Pratap Singh told reporters. The … Read more »»».

After one-day cricket, come one-day polls in Goa

PANAJI – For the first time in India, elections to a municipal corporation body will be virtually conducted on the lines of a one-day cricket match. Both voting as well as counting will be completed within a day, an official said.

To complete the effect, Goa’s Election Commissioner M. Modassir said the results would be … Read this article on Gaea Times at : After one-day cricket, come one-day polls in Goa.

General Vang Pao Funeral Rejected At Arlington National Cemetery

FRESNO (GaeaTimes.com)- Thousands of mourners paid their last tribute to General Vang Pao at the first day of his six-day long funeral. However, the mourners were angered when the U. S. army announced that the General will not be given full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. General Vang Pao passed away on January … Read more : General Vang Pao Funeral Rejected At Arlington National Cemetery.

India, Pakistan to hold exploratory talks in Thimphu

NEW DELHI – The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan are set to meet Sunday in the Bhutanese capital in what is seen as an “exploratory mission” by New Delhi to revive the dialogue process that is stalled over two years after the Mumbai terrorist attack.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Saturday flew to Thimphu for …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

BJP faces tough fight in Chhattisgarh by-poll

RAIPUR – Chhattisgarh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a tough challenge from the Congress to retain the Sanjari Balod assembly seat in the Feb 14 by-election.

The Congress lost the Sanjari Balod seat in Durg district by a few hundred votes in November 2008 to BJP’s Madanlal Sahu, who died following cardiac arrest … Original article on : BJP faces tough fight in Chhattisgarh by-poll.

How to size up the crowd – a lesson in Cairo

CAIRO/WASHINGTON – Just how many protesters are there in Cairo’s Tahrir square? Media accounts vary enormously. The crowd estimates depend on rough calculations, including one developed by a former reporter about 45 years ago.

Assessing crowd strength, even in this age of satellite imagery, continues to be a rough science. This was evident during demonstrations …. Original source  : How to size up the crowd – a lesson in Cairo.

Failed multiculturalism behind rise of Muslim radicalisation in Britain: Cameron

LONDON – British Prime Minister David Cameron would reportedly criticise “state multiculturalism” in his first speech on radicalisation and would emphasise on the need of a stronger national identity to stop young Muslims being radicalised and tempted into terrorism.

Different cultures are encouraged to live apart, and objectionable views met with “passive tolerance”, he will … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Failed multiculturalism behind rise of Muslim radicalisation in Britain: Cameron.

Cynthia Stroum Criticized

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com)- Cynthia Stroum, the former U. S. Ambassador has been blamed for under-performance while she was serving her post. The ex-Ambassador resigned from her post in January 31 and just after a week State Department officials have issued a report where it is stated that Cynthia Stroum’s management style was “confrontational” and hence … Original article on : Cynthia Stroum Criticized.

Mamata meets Pranab Mukherjee, discuss budget session strategy

KOLKATA – Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee called on Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at the latter’s residence late on Friday evening.

The two leaders talked for around 45 minutes. During the meeting, Mukherjee sought help from the Trinamool chief in the smooth conduct of business in the coming budget session of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mamata meets Pranab Mukherjee, discuss budget session strategy.

Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei praises unrest in Egypt, Tunisia

Tehran, Feb 5 (IANS/AKI) Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has praised the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, stating they resembled his own country’s revolution.

“Today, developments…in Egypt, Tunisia and some other countries have a special meaning for the Iranian nation,” AKI reported Khamenei as saying during a Friday prayer sermon, in a report on …. Source article  : Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei praises unrest in Egypt, Tunisia.

Protesters stand their ground in Cairo square

CAIRO – Defiant protesters continued to camp in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to seek the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, a day after tens of thousands of Egyptians held a “day of departure” for their president who has ruled for the past 30 years.

Demonstrators stood their ground in Tahrir Square, the focal point of the unrest …. Original source  : Protesters stand their ground in Cairo square.

Obama stops short of asking Mubarak to quit

WASHINGTON – Short of asking embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to quit, President Barack Obama has served notice on a key ally that the transition of power “must begin now” and lead to “free and fair elections.

Talks between he Egyptian government and its political opponents were in the initial stages, he noted Friday but … Original source on Gaea Times at : Obama stops short of asking Mubarak to quit.

Anti-government protests in Morocco planned on Facebook

Rabat, Feb 5 (IANS/AKI) Moroccan authorities have okayed an anti-government protest being planned on the popular social networking site Facebook, a media report said.

The media report said several Moroccan youth movements have announced on Facebook that they are planning to organise an Egypt-style anti-government protest Feb 20, a move apparently welcomed by the government. …. Source  : Anti-government protests in Morocco planned on Facebook.

Biden calls Manmohan, reaffirms US commitment to partnership

WASHINGTON – Amidst the crisis in Egypt, US Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and “reaffirmed the US commitment to building a global, strategic partnership with India.”

There weren’t many details available or if the call Friday was related to Egypt with a short White House readout only saying they …. Source article  : Biden calls Manmohan, reaffirms US commitment to partnership.

Raja’s arrest should be first step in cleaning the system (Comment)

Andimuthu Raja’s rise and fall underline the triumph and tragedy of Indian democracy. The ascent of this 47-year-old from an ordinary Dalit family in rural Tamil Nadu to be a cabinet minister at the centre points to the opportunities which the electoral system provides to people at all levels. At the same time, his incarceration …. Original article  : Raja’s arrest should be first step in cleaning the system (Comment).

Tamil diaspora marks Sri Lanka independence day as black day

TORONTO – The Tamil diaspora in Canada marked Sri Lanka’s independence day Friday as a “black day” by wearing black badges.

“We join the Tamils back home in marking this day as a black day. The Tamil diaspora all over the world is mourning this day as a black day,” said David Poopalapillai, national spokesperson …. Source  : Tamil diaspora marks Sri Lanka independence day as black day.