Author Archives: Gunjan Priya

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Violent tornado destroys 7 states in U.S killing 45 people

The rampant US economy receives another severe setback with yesterday’s tornado. Almost seven states of the country have converted into loads of debris and dead bodies due to one of the largest storm in the states. Around 45 people have been reported killed and many are missing. Thousands of people in North Carolina, Virginia and Oklahoma have become homeless.

The continuous three-day disaster that had 241 tornadoes altogether affected more than 14 states in the United States. Experts have also warned over probability of more storms over central and Southern regions in the coming week. The same may revisit the areas, which have already been devastated in this tornado.

North Carolina and Virginia have been worst affected due to damage by the tornado. , Hundreds of people have been injured and many of the residents are missing in the rubble.

A family in Raleigh lost three children  due to collapse of their home during the storm. The government authorities are yet taking account of number of deaths and loss of properties during the disaster.

At least 10 people were killed alone in Berties and 50 were injured in the stormy weather. Raleigh

Seven states have been damaged though however, North Carolina governor has declared a state of emergency after seeing the level of devastation in the county. Carolina has experienced worst ever series of storms since 1984.

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Pro-Gaddafi forces accused of using banned bombs in Libya

Pro-government security forces in Libya have been accused of violating human rights in suppressing the rebellions who demanded ouster of Gaddafi government. The security forces were found using cluster bombs according to a human rights group. These bombs are prohibited in more than 100 nations of the world.

Human Rights Watch stated that there were projectiles found being launched in Libya that exploded near Misrata in Libya. However the administration denied the allegations.

The international Convention on Cluster Munitions which was adopted in Dublin by the international community in 2008 bans its 108 signatories from using cluster bombs due to its severe impact on human lives.

The Gaddafi-supporting security forces are continuously pushing rebellions out of their strongholds and Misrata is the only city left in their hands so far.

According to a report, Misrata residents are scared of a possible massacre in case they do not receive immediate help from the NATO-led international security forces

The meeting of global diplomats in Berlin, which was led by NATO ministers, did not reach any commitment over contributing warplanes.

The US, UK and France expressed in a joint statement that without forcing Gaddafi to resign, it would not be possible to safeguard the life of Libyan people. Russia urged NATO not to go beyond UN Security Council’s mandate for protecting Libyans.

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US president to cut more on spending to compensate for debt

Barack Obama reveals US Congress requires making more cuts for making up for the fiscal deficit. The government needs to finalize a deal over limits to borrow.

The deal if passed by the Congress would reduce the pressure over meeting 2011 budget for the government however the problem would remain same regarding the more difficult time lying ahead. The President justified the suggested cuts which he stated are vital for the sustenance of the US economy.

The opposition Republicans have been crying aloud not to raise the debt limits from the level of $14.3 trillion, in case the spending concessions are not increased by the Democrat government.

However the Democrats consider it a separate issue and do not want to mix up increasing debt limit with spending. The United States is almost reaching its debt limit prescribed constitutionally by mid of May. In case the nation does not lift its debt limit it would be in defaulter’s line for its own debts.

However, Obama did not clarify whether the Congress would vote for spending and debt limit issues simultaneously or hold specific votes for the votes.

Obama also did not rule out the possibilities of accepting the oppositions’ demand for clubbing spending cuts with increase in debt limit.

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Former Egyptian president faces corruption charges

The besieged former president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak remains in hospital due to his critical conditions after being detained over corruption charges.The authorities revealed

Mubarak’s health conditions immediately after he was hospitalized. He was under interrogation for 15 days in Red Sea Resort at Sharm el-Sheikh.

O some medical center in Cairo. Mubarak’s two sons—Alaa and Gamal are also under investigation and detained for 15 days along the former president. The ex-president and his family have been accused of mismanaging public funds and using for their personal benefits as well as adopting oppressive actions to suppress the opposition groups and protesters.

Mubarak denied all the allegations and tried to defend himself and his family. He asserted his rights to defend himself and his family while making his first public appearance after his ouster by the Egyptian people. Mubarak was overthrown from the post of president after huge mass protests against him in February.

The security forces, that supported Mubarak remained suppressive against the protesters and killed many of them.  Many leaders of opposition were detained by the security forces while they evacuated the demonstraters from Tahir Square in Cairo.

The opposition groups are now pressurizing the incumbent government for military trial against Mubarak and his family members who are also believed to have used his post for wrong reasons.

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US to follow new strategy for establishing peace in Middle East

Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State stated that the United States is formulating new strategy to promote Arab-Israeli peace and also to resolve conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Clinton revealed that President Barack Obama is to lay out new U.S. policy to tackle with the Middle East issues as well as North Africa in order to establish peace in these regions. The US president initiated a direct dialogue over Israel-Palestine peace however America is pressurized now with the possibilities that Palestinians might seek help from the United Nations to form a Palestinian state.

Mrs. Clinton further stated that the president would talk over US policy toward Middle East and North Africa coming week. She explained that the US interests are same toward human values and commitments to establish harmony and peace in the world as they have been and it pledges to resolve conflicts and remove terrorism from the entire world. She reiterates US aim to resolve Middle East issues and says that the nation is eager to reinitiate the peace process.

The US secretary of state discussed the problems of mass revolutions in Middle East and other parts of the world that are fighting against authoritarian rulers. She attributed the unrests in Arab World as impacts of the same in Tunisia and Egypt, inspiring Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Syria to follow the same path.

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Obama pledges to struggle with budget deficit

Obama pledges to struggle with budget deficit

The US Congress is geared up to deal with the economic crisis, however there is still a load of federal debt lagging behind and hampering all welfare programs.

David Plouffe, White House senior adviser stated in an interview that the US president plans to decrease the federal deficit and is formulating stategy for it.

However, there is a contrary concern among Americans over this as in order to reduce budget deficit, the US government may impose new taxes and other burdens over people.

Plouffe, who played a prominent role in the election campaign for Obama in 2008, further added that Obama would reveal his stand over how to deal with reduction in budget deficit. Plouffe stated this during a TV show. Plouffe said that the president believed that deficit reduction can help US economy to grow. However, by cutting student loans or funds for medical research works etc won’t do any good to the economy.

Obama’s main thrust would be on reducing tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans which goes in reverse to Bush era economic strategies.Plouffe stressed on that the US president did not refer to the middle class Americans to be included under this term.The government hopes to cover domestic and defense expenditure along the health care and federal deficit as well as the long-term debt of $14 trillion.

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Libyan President settles down for agreement with AU

Libyan President settles down for agreement with AU

Finally Moammar Gadhafi, the besieged president of Libya has come to agreement with the International community–African Union [AU] over ending the prolonged conflict with opponents, revealed the South African president Jacob Juma. However the terms and conditions of the agreement that was negotiated between the African Union delegation and Gaddafi have not been revealed yet.

Gaddafi attended the meeting in Tripoli. It was the Libyan leader’s second meet with the delegates.

The African Union took initiative on behalf of the entire global community to stop the violence suppression of rebellions by the pro-Gaddafi security forces in Libya. The delegates are expected to meet the rebellions and Gaddafi’s opposition members after this meet to negotiate further for establishing peace and stability in Libya.

The opposition leader and their supporters are centered presently at their stronghold in in Benghazi.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, , Uganda, South Africa and Mali represent special committee of African Union for Libya.

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the president of Mauritania talked to media over ways to resolve the Libyan crisis. He added that the main aim of the AU was to halt the military operations there in Libya and seek for a peaceful solution to the crisis.

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Ex-Egyptian president Mubarak refutes corruption charges

Hosni Mubarak, Former Egyptian president denied all allegations of corruption against him and his family while addressing people on Sunday. It was his first public appearance after being ousted from the post of President two months back.

Hosni Mubarak, was compelled to step down from his post onFeb. 11 following fierce anti-government protests all over Egypt. He stated that he did not loot Egypt and had no illicit cash hidden in neither foreign banks nor he acquired any other assets. Mubarak assured Egyptians of cooperating with all investigations regarding the alleagation. He clarified that he had only one bank account in Egypt and none of his family members had benefitted from the position he held in the country.

Suzanne, Mubarak’s wife and two sons—Alaa and Gamal are suspected to have taken advantage of his power for personal gains.

Mubarak’s statements indicated that he had stepped down as to show his patriotism for the nation.

He defended himself saying that he had always worked for the intereste of Egyptians and now walked out of his political life wishing for their prosperity.

The statement came from a televised speech and Mubarak sounded as reading some paper. His toned showed that he was proud of ruling Egypt for almost three decades and had no regrets over his ouster

The former president also stressed on taking legal action to defend himself against the corruption charges against him.

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US President seeks for cooperation over budget talks

US President seeks for cooperation over budget talks

Barack Obama appeals to diplomats to cooperate over deductions in the $38 billion budget citing them painful.

He president asked opposition leaders to to cooperate with the ruling Democrats. He showed readiness to compromise more to save the country in economic and social crisis.

Obama sated this during a radion address appreciating all leaders for their cooperative attitude to reach the 11th hour budgetary agreement and speedy cuts in it in order to keep government open for remaining financial year. He acknowledged that this was largets ever deduction in the government spending in the United States. Obama further explained that the speedy cuts would hamper the infrastructure projects and many public welfare programs and he would never do such compromises had there been other alternatives.

The legislation is expected to go through legal procedure in the coming week following the overnight bridging by both houses of the Congress. The current fiscal year would end by Sept 30.

However, the speedy cuts too do not seem to be a permanent solution as there are more complicated issues like raising debt ceiling are lying ahead the next budget.

The president expressed hopes over collective efforts of Republicans and Democrats to grow American economy and create new jobs as well as reduce the huge long-term deficits.

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Ouattara’s supporters surround president Gbagbo’s home in Ivory Coast

Anti-government protesters who support Alassane Ouattara surrounded Gbagbo’s house following violent clashes between opposite sides. Ouattara’s supporters attacked over Gbagbo’s bunker, pro-Gbagbo troops forced them to surrender.

French airplanes rushed to save Japan’s envoy to Ivory Coast, who was trapped there due to ongoing clashes in the country.

Alain Juppe, French Foreign Minister stated that Israel called on France to help in evacuate its nationals from Ivory Coast. On Wednesday, Gbagbo ‘s refusal to accept his defeat in the elections and step down from his post agitated Ouattara’s supporters and they surrounded Gbagbo’s house to capture him alive.

The current political crisis in Ivory Coast is a reflux of what has been happening in many countries of the Middle East region. It started in December when President Gbagbo rejected the election results and did not leave the post of President. Most of the Ivoirians today support Ouattara, Gbagbo’s political opponent leader and winner of the recent elections.

There have been tremendous efforts from the global community to convince and pressurize Gbagbo to resign and hand over power to Ouattara but in vain.  Anti-government protesters in Ivory Coast turned into rebellions seizing cities and pushing pro-president security forces back to Abidjan.

There have been numerous deaths due to continuous violent conflicts between the pro-Gbagbo forces and the protesters. Around 1 million Ivorians have been forced to flee away from their homes and out of them 100,000 have taken shelter in Liberia.