Political News – Newsletter for February 11, 2011

Outrage as Mubarak refuses to go, US steps up pressure (Fourth Lead)

CAIRO/WASHINGTON – Furious Egyptians Friday prepared to hold a huge pro-democracy demonstration Friday, a day after embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced he would not be demitting office, prompting US President Barack Obama to reiterate that the aspirations of the people must be met.

The protesters at downtown Cairo’s Tahrir Square were initially stunned and …. Source  : Outrage as Mubarak refuses to go, US steps up pressure (Fourth Lead).

Vallarpadam terminal a mile-stone in logistic infrastructure development: PM

KOCHI – Dedicating the International Container Trans-shipment Terminal to the Nation at Vallapadam in Kochi, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh today termed it as a “mile-stone in logistic infrastructure development.”

“The realisation of this a long-awaited project is a mile stone in the country’s development of logistic infrastructure which would help Kochi emerge …. Source article  : Vallarpadam terminal a mile-stone in logistic infrastructure development: PM.

Gilani appreciates Indo-Pak dialogue resumption, Manmohan’s vision for better ties

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has expressed his satisfaction on the decision taken by Pakistan and India to resume the full spectrum of their bilateral dialogue, and appreciated the vision of his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh in this regard.

Gilani made these remarks during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, who … Read more >>.

Yassin brushes aside former US envoy’s ‘Malaysia tolerated ethnic factionalism’ views

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has brushed off former US Ambassador John Malott John Malott’s criticism that Kuala Lumpur had tolerated ethnic factionalism, saying his comments do not carry any weightage.

“These are just his personal opinions and the media shouldn’t make a fuss. His comments don’t carry any weight because … Read more »»».

PM inaugurates Kochi international container terminal

KOCHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Friday inaugurated India’s first International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT) in the Special Economic Zone at nearby Vallarpadam Island.

The total cost of the first and second phase of the terminal is pegged at around Rs 6,250 crore.

The terminal after its completion will be able to handle … Read more >>.

Multiculturalism has failed: Nicolas Sarkozy

PARIS – French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that multiculturalism had failed, echoing the growing concerns about the issue among a number of world leaders or ex-leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron.

“We have been too concerned about the identity of the person who was arriving and not enough about the identity of the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Multiculturalism has failed: Nicolas Sarkozy.

Kerala ministers upset over PM’s function

KOCHI – Kerala Fisheries Minister S.Sharma and Transport Minister Jose Thettayil Friday expressed displeasure at state ministers not being invited to join the prime minister on the dais during the inauguration of the International Container Transhipment Terminal here.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier in the day dedicated the largest single operator container terminal [..] Read the original article: here.

Day 3 of shutdown in Darjeeling, tension continues

KOLKATA/DARJEELING – The situation in West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills continued to be tense but no fresh trouble was reported Friday, day three of an indefinite shutdown called by pro-Gorkhaland Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) against the death of two activists in police firing.

“There are no reports of disturbances today (Friday). Some tension is … Read more »»».

New Nepal PM sidesteps first foreign trip row

KATHMANDU – Adroitly sidestepping the row dogging the first foreign trips of Nepal’s prime ministers, new premier Jhala Nath Khanal said his first destination abroad would be neither India nor China.

The 61-year-old communist leader, who was sworn in Sunday after winning the prime ministerial election with the surprise backing of the Maoist party, told … Read : New Nepal PM sidesteps first foreign trip row.

Now, foreign secretary Rao on Twitter

NEW DELHI – Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Friday opened her Twitter account, becoming the first senior Indian bureaucrat to do so.

Her first post went out from her account (www.twitter.com/forsecnrao) at about 12.10 p.m. Friday – “Leaving4NewYork tonite.”
According to a foreign ministry official, Rao will be herself sending out tweets through her Blackberry phone. …. Read the original article  : Now, foreign secretary Rao on Twitter.

Congress legislator dies of cardiac arrest

BHOPAL – Former Madhya Pradesh minister and legislator Ratnesh Soloman died in the national capital following a cardiac arrest. He was 57.

Soloman, a minister in the Digvijay Singh government and elected to the assembly for the fourth time in 2008, was in Delhi when he got a heart attack while climbing stairs. He … Read : Congress legislator dies of cardiac arrest.

Mubarak stand: Intelligence failure or a deal gone awry?

WASHINGTON – The embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s “shocking” refusal to resign as widely anticipated has set off another round of speculation: Was it a major intelligence failure or a deal gone awry?

Or was it simply “a rare misstep” by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta, “who had little intelligence experience before taking … Read : Mubarak stand: Intelligence failure or a deal gone awry?.

Omar aims at more power to panchayats

JAMMU – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that separate election and finance commissions would be set up for panchayats before the upcoming polls in conformity with the 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution.

“The government will introduce bills seeking the constitution of a separate election and finance commission for panchayats … Original article on : Omar aims at more power to panchayats.

Protesters swell as Mubarak clings to power, US steps up pressure (Third Lead)

CAIRO/WASHINGTON – Spurred on by President Hosni Mubarak declaring he was not quitting office, tens of thousands of Egyptians Friday vowed to hold a massive pro-democracy demonstration as US President Barack Obama also mounted more pressure on the embattled regime.

The protesters at downtown Cairo’s Tahrir Square were taken aback and grew agitated when Mubarak, …. Source article  : Protesters swell as Mubarak clings to power, US steps up pressure (Third Lead).

PM to inaugurate Kochi international container terminal

KOCHI – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will on Friday inaugurate India’s first International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT) in the Special Economic Zone at nearby Vallarpadam Island.

The total cost of the first and second phase of the terminal is pegged at around Rs 6,250 crore.

The terminal after its completion will be able to … Read more »»».

NASA rocket to bear name of Egyptian woman killed in protests

Cairo, Feb 11 (IANS/AKI) The US’ space agency NASA has okayed the naming of one of its spaceships after a young Egyptian woman killed in late January during an anti-government protest, according to Egyptian daily Al-Masry-al-Youm.

The paper quoted Essam Mohamed Haji, a young researcher at NASA, as saying Thursday that he had received … Read this article on Gaea Times at : NASA rocket to bear name of Egyptian woman killed in protests.

Mubarak baiting protestors or inviting military action?

WASHINGTON – Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s “shocking” refusal to resign has been interpreted by analysts as less than adequate to a bait for the crowds to turn violent and an invitation to the military to act.

It creates a massive crisis for the Egyptian military whose “goal is not to save Mubarak but to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Mubarak baiting protestors or inviting military action?.

Lawmakers come to blows in Venezuela

Caracas, Feb 11 (IANS/EFE) Pro-government and opposition lawmakers came to blows Thursday during a session of the Venezuelan National Assembly devoted to questioning of several of President Hugo Chavez’s ministers.

Tension had been building since Jan 5, when the winners of last fall’s legislative elections assumed their seats.
Due to an opposition boycott of the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Lawmakers come to blows in Venezuela.

Mubarak had told US not to topple Saddam: WikiLeaks

LONDON – Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had advised the former US vice-president Dick Cheney not to dethrone Saddam Hussein, according to leaked US cables.

Mubarak warned that by ignoring his advice and invading Iraq the Americans had increased the threat posed by Iran, The Telegraph reported WikiLeaks as stating, adding that he had stated …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mubarak had told US not to topple Saddam: WikiLeaks.

US piles pressure on Mubarak to hasten democracy

WASHINGTON – As Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stubbornly clung to power sparking more protests, US President Barack Obama mounted pressure on the embattled regime asking “to move swiftly to explain the changes.”

Asserting that Mubarak has not convinced the Egyptian people that his handover of powers “is immediate, meaningful or sufficient”, he asked the Cairo … Read this article on Gaea Times at : US piles pressure on Mubarak to hasten democracy.