Jakaya re-elected as Tanzanias president

Tanzania’s incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete has been returned to office following last weekend’s elections. Mr Kikwete won just over 61% of the votes, beating candidates from opposition parties. The election commission dismissed claims of irregularities in the count.

Mr Kikwete has been credited with boosting the nation’s economy, but his opponents say he has failed to tackle widespread poverty. Tanzania boasts east Africa’s second-biggest economy, although more than 50% of Tanzanians still live below the poverty line, according to the IMF.

The main opposition leader, Willibrod Slaa, had called for a vote recount, but the commission said there were not enough irregularities to change the final result. The president, who is 60, will serve a second and final term.

Zardari rules like a don says Nawaz

Staff Report

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has said that President Asif Ali Zardari rules the nation like a don and Pakistan does not belong to the Bhutto family.

The main opposition party of the country has suddenly changed its friendly attitude towards the government and changed its tone, criticizing the government.

Khwaja Saad Rafique, Senator Pervez Khursheed and many other prominent PML-N leaders used very strong language while criticizing the President and his aids while addressing a party congregation in Lahore held to recall October 12,1999′s military coup as a black day.

PML-N leaders said Shahnawaz Bhutto was loyal to the British rulers and if President Zardari’s state of affairs do not improve, the government will not be allowed to complete its five years tenure.

Responding to PML-N leaders’ statements, Pakistan

India’s cabinet clears nuclear liability bill

NEW DELHI: India’s cabinet on Friday cleared changes to a bill aimed at opening up the country’s $150 billion nuclear power market and it is likely to be placed in parliament on Saturday, a senior Congress party minister said.

A parliamentary panel on Wednesday recommended changes to the bill, including trebling accident compensation and extending liability to private firms.

“The changes suggested by the panel have been approved by the cabinet,” the minister, who declined to be identified, told reporters.

The cabinet said there will make a minor amendment to the bill on Saturday after the main opposition Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised fresh objections.

The BJP, which backed the panel’s recommendation, objects to the addition of a word in the reworked bill that makes the supplier liable in case of an accident only if the operator

Pakistan Jeopardizing Peace Talks, Alleges Abdullah

Afghanistan’s main opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah expressed scepticism over peace talks with the Taliban, alleging Pakistan of not being sincere.
“The Taliban are not ready to enter talks. They think that they have the upper hand militarily. And also, it is against their ideology, against their core existence to enter talks or to envisage to be part of a democratic system, Abdullah told a foreign news agency. Abdullah said that NATO’s major military offensive could push some of Taliban foot soldiers towards talks, but Pakistan was jeopardising the initiative. “The continuation of support from Pakistan for the Taliban that is one key element that is one constant factor which has not changed yet. That is important if they think that they do not have that support any more. Then, of course that will affect the resolve of many, many people among the Taliban movement.”
Thanks for your comments

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Pakistan Jeopardizing Peace Talks, Alleges Abdullah was first posted on February 22, 2010 at 12:09 pm.

British parliamentarian Dr. Liam Fox Calls on Sri Lanka President

British parliamentarian Dr. Liam Fox Calls on Sri Lanka President, A parliamentarian of the Britain’s main opposition Conservative Party and Shadow Defence secretary called on the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at the Temple Trees.

Ministers Rohitha Bogollagama, Prof. G.L Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunge, and Secretary of Foreign affairs Romesh Jayasinghe also participated in the discussion.

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British parliamentarian Dr. Liam Fox Calls on Sri Lanka President was first posted on February 17, 2010 at 6:20 pm.

John Kerry Meets PM Gilani, Discuss KLB

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan :John Kerry Meets PM Gilani, Discuss KLB,  US Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee held talks with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Monday.

Kerry visiting Pakistan after US President Barack Obama signed a record 7.5 billion dollar package tripling non-military aid to Pakistan to boost its campaign against a virulent insurgency.

Kerry in his meeting apprised prime minister about the explanatory statement that has been attached to the bill. He along with the US ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson also discussed Pak-US bilateral ties and the need to carry forward their long term relationship. Kerry, who was a key author of the five-year package aiming to build schools, roads and democratic institutions, due to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and the main opposition party leader Nawaz Sharif later today.

The senator visit aimed to narrow dawn speculations over US aid bill to Pakistan.

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John Kerry Meets PM Gilani, Discuss KLB was first posted on October 19, 2009 at 4:48 pm.

NRO Tabled in Parliament

ISLAMABAD,Pakistan: NRO Tabled in Parliament, The government has presented the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the Senate and National Assembly (AN) here on Friday for discussion.

The NRO presented today at the Parliament in carrying out the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. ”

It is worth noting that all major political parties within and outside parliament, including the main opposition party, the PML-N, are continuously demanding the government in parliament this NRO.

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NRO Tabled in Parliament was first posted on October 16, 2009 at 4:36 pm.