Political News – Newsletter for February 9, 2011

Pakistan cabinet members quit (Second Lead)

ISLAMABAD – The members of Pakistan’s federal cabinet Wednesday tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in a move to rightsize it.

The cabinet members tendered their resignations to Gilani to enable him announce a new council of ministers, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
The Pakistan federal government has 54 ministers, including …. Source article  : Pakistan cabinet members quit (Second Lead).

Former Karnataka deputy chief minister Prakash dead

BANGALORE – Former Karnataka deputy chief minister M.P. Prakash passed away here Wednesday. He was 71.

A highly respected leader known for his simplicity and integrity, Prakash was also a theatre enthusiast. He had directed and acted in Kannada plays.
He was deputy chief minister in the Congress-Janata Dal-Secular coalition in 2006-07. Later he joined …. Original article  : Former Karnataka deputy chief minister Prakash dead.

Pakistan cabinet members resign

ISLAMABAD – The members of Pakistan’s federal cabinet Wednesday tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who said a new cabinet would be formed, media reports said.

The cabinet members tendered their resignations to Gilani to enable him announce a new council of ministers, in light of decisions taken by the Central Executive …. Original article  : Pakistan cabinet members resign.

Patriot Act Extension Bill Denied

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com)- The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday night dismissed a bill claiming the extension of the powers of the 2001 Patriot Act and Intelligence Reform bill. The passing of the bill was denied after the voting failed to acquire a majority of two-third, as per the rules and regulations of the U.S. House … Read more : Patriot Act Extension Bill Denied.

Pakistan cabinet quits

ISLAMABAD – All the members of the federal cabinet tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday, Geo News reported.
… Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan cabinet quits.

Rights group accuses Kamat, Congress MLA of land scam

PANAJI – A civil rights group Wednesday accused Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and a Congress legislator of facilitating a land scam that it says amounts to letting special economic zones (SEZs) enter “through the back door”.

Paul Fernandes, convenor of the Pilerne Citizens Forum (PCF) that used the Right to Information (RTI) Act to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Rights group accuses Kamat, Congress MLA of land scam.

MP Prakash Passes Away

BANGALORE, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- One of the most revered and respected politicians of Karnataka, Matada Patil Prakash or MP Prakash, left for the heavenly adobe, today morning. The seventy one year old politician, who worked for the, Janata Dal, Congress and has been an exponent of the Lingayat Community in Karnataka. He was admitted to …. Read the original article  : here.

Thousands of protesters remain in Cairo’s Tahrir Square

CAIRO – Thousands of Egyptians Wednesday continued to camp out in protest in Cairo’s Tahrir square, after a mass rally the day before to pressure President Hosni Mubarak to step down.

Overnight UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the Egyptian government to enact a transition “the sooner, the better”, but stopped short of calling …. Read the original article  : Thousands of protesters remain in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

Time for dialogue to resolve Kashmir problem: Hurriyat

SRINAGAR – The time had come for a meaningful dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem, and people from the valley need to come forward to initiate the process, the moderate wing of the separatist Hurrriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said Wednesday.

In a significant move, the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat group issued a statement that …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Ex-PM Brown’s adviser told former NATO commander to play down Afghan failures

LONDON – A senior adviser to former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is reported to have put pressure on a NATO commander to play down troop-related failures in Afghanistan.

According to leaked documents provided by the whistle blowing web site WikiLeaks, the adviser is said to have told the concerned commander not to reveal too much …. Original source  : Ex-PM Brown’s adviser told former NATO commander to play down Afghan failures.

US, Pakistan contacts now confined to Davis’s release

ISLAMABAD – The discussions between the US and Pakistan are now confined only to the row over US official Raymond Davis, who was arrested after he shot dead two Pakistanis in Lahore, it was reported here.

Contacts between Washington and Islamabad are only over the dispute on the release of Davis, US and diplomatic …. Original article  : US, Pakistan contacts now confined to Davis’s release.

Jayalalithaa asks PM to break silence on scams

CHENNAI – AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to speak up on the major corruption scams that have rocked the country.

Referring to a controversial deal between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Devas Multimedia, she said: “It is a national shame that scams running to lakhs of crores … Original source on Gaea Times at : Jayalalithaa asks PM to break silence on scams.

Julia Hurley Credits Hooters

NASHVILLE (GaeaTimes.com)- Newly elected Republican in the Tennessee House of Representatives, Julia Hurley credited her previous workplace Hooters for shaping her career and her personal life. The Tennessee legislator wrote a current issue of a reputed magazine where she spoke about the difficulties that she faced in her life, her experience as Hooters girl …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Milan prosecutors seek immediate trial for Berlusconi

LONDON – Prosecutors in Milan today will formally ask that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stand trial immediately in connection with an investigation of his relations with an underage girl.

“We’ll have a final meeting today on the procedural aspects and tomorrow we will forward the request to the judge,” the Daily Mail quoted chief prosecutor … Read more »».

Kashmir interlocutors’ report likely by February end

JAMMU – The three interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir are likely to submit their final report to the union home ministry by the end of this month, according to highly placed sources in the government.

The Omar Abdullah government is keen to have a “final assessment” of the interlocutors on the situation and their possible …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A PM who paid when sons used official car

NEW DELHI – At a time when Indian politicians make news for corruption and misuse of power comes a book on Lal Bahadur Shastri, the country’s second prime minister who was so upright that he deposited money in government coffers because his sons had used his official car.

The incident has been captured in the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : A PM who paid when sons used official car.

US criticises Egyptian regime over slow pace of reform

WASHINGTON – As Egypt continued to be roiled in turmoil, the United States criticised the embattled Cairo regime, calling comments by Vice President Omar Suleiman that Egypt is not ready for democracy “particularly unhelpful.”

“Vice President Suleiman made some particularly unhelpful comments about Egypt not being ready for democracy,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs … Read this article on Gaea Times at : US criticises Egyptian regime over slow pace of reform.

Ban Ki-moon urges peaceful transition in Egypt

UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for “an orderly and peaceful transition” in crisis-torn Egypt.

He has also expressed the hope that “genuine dialogue between the leaders and the people will lead to the beginning of such a process”.
Ban made the statement at a press conference here Tuesday after briefing the … Read more : Ban Ki-moon urges peaceful transition in Egypt.

Executive Order – Establishment of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committees

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES

     By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United …. Source  : Executive Order — Establishment of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committees.

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 2/8/2011

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
 

See below for an answer to a question (marked with an asterisk) posed in the briefing that required …. Read the original article  : Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 2/8/2011.