Political News – Newsletter for February 13, 2011

Chouhan cancels fast after PM’s positive response on aid

BHOPAL – Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Sunday cancelled his indefinite fast to protest against the centre’s “injustice to the people” of the state after receiving a positive response from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on aid.

The chief minister said the prime minister has invited him to Delhi Feb 20 for talks with …. Source  : Chouhan cancels fast after PM’s positive response on aid.

Protests in Rome-After Mubarak, it’s time for Berlusconi to step down

LONDON – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced a clamour from the streets of Rome to follow Hosni Mubarak’s example and step down from Italy’s premiership, as hundreds of protestors blew time on his leadership.

The demonstrators struggled to be heard at times amid the din from blowing of whistles and banging of cooking saucepans during …. Read the original article  : Protests in Rome-After Mubarak, it’s time for Berlusconi to step down.

Hundreds of protesters remain in Cairo’s Tahrir square

CAIRO – Hundreds of demonstrators remained in Cairo’s Tahrir square Sunday, two days after the resignation of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, as the first cabinet meeting since his departure was scheduled to take place later in the day.

They were still in the square, the focal point of demonstrations over the past three weeks, although … Read more : Hundreds of protesters remain in Cairo’s Tahrir square.

Clarify stand on Kashmir’s territory: Omar to PDP

JAMMU – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday asked the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clarify its stand on the territorial integrity of the state after the party showed a part of the state inside China.

Abdullah told newsmen on the sidelines of a police function here Sunday: It is for …. Read the original article  : here.

Palestinian Authority calls elections before September

GAZA – The Palestinian Authority has said it will hold long overdue presidential and legislative elections before September.

The presidential and legislative elections were originally scheduled for 2010. But they were called off because of internal problems within the government, Xinhua reported Sunday.
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist political party, however, responded quickly with a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Palestinian Authority calls elections before September.

Ex-premier, senior officials barred from leaving Egypt

Cairo, Feb 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Egypt’s chief prosecutor has barred former prime minister Ahmed Nazif and other senior officials from leaving the country to prevent them from escaping corruption charges, soon after people’s protests forced president Hosni Mubarak to step down.

The travel ban has also been imposed on other members of the former … Original article on : Ex-premier, senior officials barred from leaving Egypt.

Democracy will make Middle East more stable: Obama

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama told key foreign leaders that democracy will help stabilize the Middle East amid uncertainty about Egypt’s future after President Hosni Mubarak was toppled.

Obama Saturday telephoned British Prime Minister David Cameron, King Abdullah of Jordan and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss developments in Egypt, the White …. Read the original article  : here.

Defectors, independents, dissidents – all part of Hooda government

CHANDIGARH – Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda does not only head a coalition government in the state, but one full of independents, defectors and not-so-friendly Congress leaders.

Two legislators who had defected from the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) were inducted as cabinet ministers Jan 28, making it apparent that Hooda is under political pressure … Read more >>.

Clinton ‘forced’ Qureshi to grant immunity to Davis

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had pressurised him to verify the diplomatic immunity to Raymond Davis arrested for gunning down two men in Lahore.

“Hillary Clinton called me and wanted me to publicly confirm diplomatic immunity of Davis. However, I refused … Read : Clinton ‘forced’ Qureshi to grant immunity to Davis.

US defers trilateral meeting with Pakistan

WASHINGTON – The US has postponed a trilateral meeting involving Pakistan due later this month here amid a diplomatic row over continued detention of an American official who shot dead two men in Lahore.

The US has put off a trilateral meeting with Pakistan and Afghanistan slated for Feb 23-24 in Washington “in light …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Protests in Italy -’after Mubarak, Berlusconi’

ROME – A group of Italian protesters, who call themselves the Purple People, organized a weekend of demonstrations in several cities against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, demanding his resignation over allegations of sex with underage prostitutes.

“After Mubarak, Silvio Berlusconi,” hundreds of protesters chanted in Rome Saturday, creating quite a stir as they banged …. Source  : Protests in Italy — ‘after Mubarak, Berlusconi’.

JPC more essential after Raja’s arrest: BJP, Left

SHILLONG – Reiterating their demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left parties Saturday said a probe into the scam has become essential with arrest of former communications minister A.Raja.

“We dont want a debate or discussion on JPC, but we want … Read this article on Gaea Times at : JPC more essential after Raja’s arrest: BJP, Left.

Poll panel verifies list of homeless after violence

KOLKATA – Members of the high-level Election Commission team touring poll-bound West Bengal Saturday made a door-to-door survey to verify the list of people forced to stay away from home due to political violence, said senior state official.

Three members of the team divided in two groups, visited trouble-torn areas of Howrah and East Midnapore …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Post-Mubarak, Egypt army vows peaceful power transition (Second Lead)

CAIRO – Egyptian military committed itself to oversee the peaceful transition of power Saturday, a day after Hosni Mubarak resigned as Egypt’s president after ruling the country for 30 years.

The country’s new military leaders sought to allay some of those concerns with an announcement on state television Saturday, in which they promised to hand …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Post-Mubarak, Egypt army vows peaceful power transition (Second Lead).

Krishna reads Portuguese minister’s speech at UN, ministry downplays gaffe

UNITED NATIONS – In a public gaffe, India’s External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna inadvertently read out the speech of his Portuguese counterpart at a UN Security Council meeting here, but quickly corrected it after India’s chief diplomat at the UN pointed it out to him.

Krishna read out Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado’s speech … Original source on Gaea Times at : Krishna reads Portuguese minister’s speech at UN, ministry downplays gaffe.

South Asia committed to democracy: Lok Sabha speaker

COLOMBO – South Asian countries have sent out a message to the world by coming together to promote and protect democracy, said Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as the guest of honour at a regional conference of parliamentarians here Saturday.

The third Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), being held here Feb … Read more >>>.

Krishna’s UN faux pas has embarrassed India: BJP

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said the faux pas by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna at the UN Security Council where he read out a portion of his Portuguese counterpart’s speech by mistake has embarrassed India at an international forum.

This is bound to happen when we have people who … Original source on Gaea Times at : Krishna’s UN faux pas has embarrassed India: BJP.

Krishna reads Portuguese minister’s speech at UN

UNITED NATIONS – In a public gaffe, India’s External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna inadvertently read out the speech of his Portuguese counterpart at a UN Security Council meeting here, but quickly corrected it after an Indian diplomat pointed it out to him.

Krishna read out Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado’s speech for a full … Read : Krishna reads Portuguese minister’s speech at UN.

Egypt developments could impact Kashmir: Mehbooba

SRINAGAR – The developments in Egypt could impact Kashmir, but nobody can foretell the shape of such an impact, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said here Saturday. Her comment drew ridicule from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who said she seemed to be wanting “military rule” in the state.

Addressing a media conference here, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Egypt developments could impact Kashmir: Mehbooba.

Resumption of talks with India a breakthrough: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Terming as “a breakthrough” the agreement between India and Pakistan to resume bilateral dialogue, Pakistan Saturday said the move is “likely to result in bringing peace and stability to the region”.

“We have agreed on the time frame of talks and the secretary-level talks would start in June before the foreign ministers of … Read more »».