Political News – Newsletter for March 1, 2011

Bihar moves another step to weed out corruption

PATNA – Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s initiatives to check corruption are showing results.

Nearly 80 percent of 400,000 government officials, including Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in Bihar, have submitted their assets details to the state government as per an official directive.
The remaining 20 percent officials are likely … Read more >>.

Libyan protesters defiant against Gaddafi’s security forces

CAIRO/TRIPOLI – Clashes continued across Libya Tuesday as forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi fought to regain control over areas taken over by protesters.

Witnesses from around 25 km south of the capital Tripoli said tanks and anti-aircraft crews were deployed at all major intersections, activists reported in messages posted online.
Clashes continued in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Libyan protesters defiant against Gaddafi’s security forces.

Blair signed deal to train Gaddafi’s special forces during visit to Libya in 2007

LONDON – Tony Blair had reportedly signed a deal with Libya to train Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s special forces and supply him with NATO secrets, during his last foreign trip to Africa as British Prime Minister in May 2007.

According to The Telegraph, the two leaders had agreed to co-operate on defence matters in a range …. Original article  : Blair signed deal to train Gaddafi’s special forces during visit to Libya in 2007.

Parliament disrupted over 1984 killings, caste census, farmers’ plight (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – Ruckus by opposition MPs over various issues, including the plight of farmers in Madhya Pradesh, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, caste census and phone tapping, led to disruptions in both houses of parliament Tuesday.

Opposition members sought to raise the killing of Sikhs in Rewari district of Haryana in the anti-Sikh riots in … Read more »».

JPC members from Rajya Sabha to be named

NEW DELHI – The 10 Rajya Sabha members for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the spectrum scam and the telecom policy are to be announced Tuesday.

Their nomination will complete the JPC, which has 20 Lok Sabha members.
The Rajya Sabha representatives in the JPC are likely to be P.J. Kurien, Abhishek [..] Read the original article: here.

Opposition stages walkout in Kashmir assembly

JAMMU – Opposition legislators walked out of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly Tuesday after staging noisy protests in the house.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, including its president and legislature party leader Mehbooba Mufti, wanted Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone to accept their adjournment motion and discuss the situation in the Valley where it alleged that … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Opposition stages walkout in Kashmir assembly.

Haryana’s lop-sided job quota raised in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI – Describing it as a “new face of reservation”, Communist Party of India-Marxist member Brinda Karat Tuesday raised the issue of 67 percent quota for men in jobs in Haryana and said the state government was depriving women of a level playing field.

“This is a new face of reservation, the 33 percent … Original source on Gaea Times at : Haryana’s lop-sided job quota raised in Rajya Sabha.

Telangana protestors bring daily life to rail tracks

HYDERABAD – From cooking and eating to shaving and playing games, they carried out their daily routine along the railway tracks. It was a unique protest in Telangana as people demanding separate statehood to the region in Andhra Pradesh squatted on the tracks to bring the movement of trains to a halt Tuesday.

Men and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Parliament disrupted over 1984 killings, caste census, phone tapping

NEW DELHI – Ruckus by opposition MPs over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, caste census and phone tapping disrupted question hour in both houses of parliament Tuesday.

Opposition members sought to raise the killing of Sikhs in Rewari district of Haryana in the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. The issue surfaced after a Sikh organisation claimed to …. Source  : Parliament disrupted over 1984 killings, caste census, phone tapping.

West considering military action against Gaddafi over use of chemical weapon fears

LONDON – The Western leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron are reportedly considering ordering military action against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi amid fears that the Libyan dictator could use chemical weapons against the pro-democracy protestors in his own country.

Cameron has disclosed that he would not rule out “the use of military assets” as Britain …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : West considering military action against Gaddafi over use of chemical weapon fears.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12

NEW DELHI – The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon Tuesday as opposition members sought to raise the issue of the killing of Sikhs in Rewari district of Haryana in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

As soon as the house met, opposition MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party along with those of ally Shiromani …. Read the original article  : Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12.

Berlusconi claims he no longer has a cellphone

Milan, March 1 (IANS/AKI) Italy’s scandal-mired premier Silvio Berlusconi, who currently faces four trials, has told supporters that he gave up his mobile phone to evade police surveillance.

“Be aware that your prime minister no longer has any kind of cell phone because he is subjected to every kind of wiretapping,” Berlusconi Monday told …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Berlusconi claims he no longer has a cellphone.

Tunisian minister quits

TUNIS – Tunisia’s industry and technology minister has quit government, state TAP news agency reported.

Minister Mohamed Afif Chelbi resigned from the government Monday.
Ousted Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali’s prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi quit Sunday as continuing protests demanded a change in government, AKI reported.
Ben Ali was forced out of power after … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Tunisian minister quits.

2G scam: Manmohan Singh to move motion for JPC in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI – The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, will move a motion for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the 2G scam in Rajya Sabha after which the full list of all members – from both houses – will be announced.

On Wednesday, the government gave up its earlier plan for a 21-member panel and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 2G scam: Manmohan Singh to move motion for JPC in Rajya Sabha.

US freezes Libyan assets

WASHINGTON – The US has frozen at least $30 billion in Libyan government assets as part of efforts to loosen besieged strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s grip on power.

The $30 billion is the largest amount ever blocked under any sanctions programme, David Cohen, Treasury Department’s acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said announcing the … Read more >>.

Shutdown in Andhra district to protest police firing

HYDERABAD – There was a total shutdown in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district Tuesday, a day after two people were killed when police fired at a crowd protesting against a thermal power plant.

Buses of the state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) went off the roads while shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed following a …. Original article  : Shutdown in Andhra district to protest police firing.

Berlusconi ‘may have paid for boob and lip jobs of ‘bunga bunga’ girls’

LONDON – Prosecutors in Milan, who accuse Silvio Berlusconi of abuse of office and sleeping with an under-age prostitute, believe that the prime minister paid for cosmetic surgeries of young women who attended his infamous ‘bunga bunga’ parties.

Italian prosecutors think that at least seven women in his inner circle were given money for operations to … Original article on : Berlusconi ‘may have paid for boob and lip jobs of ‘bunga bunga’ girls’.

$30 bn in Libyan assets frozen in US

WASHINGTON – The US has frozen at least $30 billion in Libyan assets since enacting sanctions to punish embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi for the violent crackdown on protesters, a US official said.

David Cohen, the Treasury Department’s acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Monday the financial action was the largest of its …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : $30 bn in Libyan assets frozen in US.

India, Africa must stick together: Top UN envoy (Interview, With Image)

NEW DELHI – Ahead of a crucial round of negotiations on reform of the UN Security Council next month, Cheick Sidi Diarra, the top UN envoy for Africa, says India and the 53-nation continent should “stick together” through twists and turns to realise their long-standing quest for permanent seats on the global high table.

“It’s … Read more »».

Two more flights bring back 600 Indians from Libya

NEW DELHI – Two special Air India flights carrying around 600 Indians fleeing violence-torn Libya arrived at the the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi in the early hours Tuesday to an emotional homecoming.

Most Indians had harrowing tales to recount of being without food and water for days or their belongings snatched in …. Original article  : Two more flights bring back 600 Indians from Libya.