Category Archives: Breaking News

Breaking news and latest news updates

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Palin analyzes political situation in Egypt

Sarah Palin has put forward her opinions as regards the political situation in Egypt, accusing the presidency of President Obama and raising her disturbed interests over the issue.

The former Alaskan governor said Saturday in a media chat that the White House wasn’t trying its best to create enough publicity in America about the recent happenings in Egypt.

Palin said the Obama Presidency should be in touch with what is happening in Egypt and also not support a country led by an Islamic faction.

She did not give any advice as to how it should be gone about but she only claimed that a good mind is needed in this stressful situation.

Her opinion is the same as for other 2012 presidential aspirants- John Bolton and Newt Gingrich.

She said she would never change from being who she has always been- unconcerned about what is said about her and that if she makes her presidential ambition she would still be unchanged.

In response to the question asked on her decision not to go to the CPAC’s annual program in Washington, she made reference to the Conservative Political Action Conference’s decision to bring in a selection of pro-gay Republicans saying should the conservatives not have the option of engaging in public discourses or extending their influence to others, which she wouldn’t agree to.

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Egypt halts natural gas supply to Israel, Jordan after gas leakage

Egypt has stopped exporting natural-gas by pipeline to Israel and Jordan following a fire, revealed Egyptian Oil Ministry.

The ministry further stated that the halt was mad e to restrict further damage to the pipeline. The incident occurred due to gas leakage in El Arish in the northern Sinai desert where the authorities suspected foreign hands behind terrorist activities. The fire was however under control without any casualty despite flames and smoke billowing out into the sky, explained the ministry in its statement. This ignites tension amidst the huge mass protests going on in Egypt for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak for last 12 days. Mubarak has warned people that if he leaves Egypt would be under chaos.

The activists made a human chain in Cairo at Tahrir Square to stop military tanks while demonstrating against President Hosni Mubarak. It is notable to remember that Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1989.

Israel’s Ministry of National Infrastructure revealed that there was no fear of interruption in electric supply to the country from this incident of fire in the pipeline. Israel meets 40% of its gas consumption needs from gas imported from Egypt. The break in gas supply from Egypt will also hamper export to Jordan however they have ample backup fuel to run the normal activities, revealed Ghaleb al-Maabira, Jordan’s state electricity company’ general director.

Egypt possesses 77 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves and is the main supplier of fuel in the easter Mediterranean region.

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Unemployment decreases without increase in jobs in US

No job growth in US despite decrease in Unemployment U.S. economy registers very low job creation in January, according to the report of the federal unemployment. Thus though there has been a reduction in percentage of unemployment the actual number of people who are unemployed, remained almost unchanged.

Bad weather was also cited a reason for slow hiring rates as per the report. Employers have not changed their defensive strategy despite a remarkable recovery of US economy.

However it is surprising how the calculation of unemployment rate on national level shows a dramatic reduction– decreasing to 9% in January, from its earlier level of 9.4% in December that was even greater one month before– 9.8% in November.

This might be however an indication of negative factors rather than increase in employment. Young working population fleeing away from US job market led to a proportional decrease in unemployment that clearly indicates that there is no expectation of increase in jobs among US people.

Bart van Ark , the chief economist of Conference Board called it a chilling start for this year as US labor market could not gain the same momentum with the economic recovery after depression.

Bureau of Labor Statistics however gave some optimistic notion as they registered 49000 jobs in manufacturing sector this month and there was in an increase of 27500 jobs in the retail section. However there was decrease in jobs in government, financial services, transportation, construction, and ad-hoc -help works last month.

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UN Shifts employees from Egypt to Cyprus for safety

The United Nations asked its members to move from Egypt seeing the mass unrest in the country. More than 5,000 passengers were besieged at Cairo airport following the violent protests in Cairo against President Hosni Mubarak.

The U.N. has sent two chartered aircraft to take back its 350 staffs and their families safely to Cyprus.

Rolando Gomez, spokesperson for the UN stated that the organization has shifted its 600 employees temporarily from Egypt to Cyprus due to security reasons. They would however, continue their usual service from Cyprus.

Around 1900 US citizens have left Egypt within three days and the United States is providing emergency supports for travel documents and flights to all its citizens for evacuating. Additional flights are being provided on Thursday to evacuate foreign nationals safely from Egypt. More than 150 US citizens were found waiting eagerly to board any available flight commercial or government-chartered flight.

There was a heavy congestion on the Cairo airport as more than 5000 passengers crowded there on Wednesday. The passengers had reached the airport fearing the bloody street brawl in the Egyptian capital city.

The mass unrest has engulfed Egypt since January end. Thousands of flights have been cancelled in the wake of violent protests. Tourism sector alone has suffered a loss of $1 billion so far in last 10 months.

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Clinton expresses concern over mass protests in Egypt

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warns diplomats against the situation in the Middle East considering it as a threat to the safety of America. She said this while addressing diplomats on Wednesday. Clinton mentioned the disclosure of confidential documents by WikiLeaks along with the difficulties in passing State Department budgets and reduction in foreign aids and called on Americans for taking up these challenges.

Clinton expressed her concern over mass protests and uprisings in Egypt against the President Hosni Mubarak and demand for his ouster. She stated that the development of means of communication has made all the nations more vulnerable these days and we are all in an “uncharted territory.”

She cited the leakage of information regarding a meeting she had called in to talk with all US ambassadors. She further added that the authorities had predicted to call on this Global Chief of Mission secretly however somehow the report was leaked and the meeting lost its importance.

The US Secretary also mentioned that due to unrest and uprising in Cairo, US envoy to Egypt missed a State Department meeting too. She said that there are cross complexities in the politics of theses countries which US needs to understand before taking any further action.

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US Agrees Upon Egyptian President’s ‘Orderly’ Exit

The Egyptian government bans social network Twitter following mass outrage and demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak.

The United States has finally settled down with a hope that Egyptian president will step down. Seeing the large scale of demonstrations and public protests the US administration has realized it had underestimated Egyptians’ discontent with Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years’ rule.

The US showed its displeasure over Mubarak’s reactions against public demonstrations asking for his exit.

The US authorities also communicated with Cairo government regarding a transitional course of action for conduction free polls after Hosni Mubarak’s exit from president ship.

A former US diplomat Frank Wisner was sent to Cairo on Monday to convey US message to the Egypt Government.

US has so far played no role in Cairo’s politics. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has completely blocked the use of the internet and cell phones—two effective modes of communication through which the United States could affect any movement in the country.

Moreover, the United States also does not seem to be interested in showcasing its sympathy toward Hosni Mubarak against whom entire Egypt has began a campaign and his ouster has become quite evitable.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called Mubarak’s attempt to include new members in his cabinet as futile and stressed on real action like- freedom of speech, and association, communications and assembly – and most importantly removing emergency laws, freeing political prisoners and modifying the Egyptian Constitution as they are important key issues.

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Israel tested Stuxnet virus with consent of US administration

Israel tested the notorious computer virus Stuxnet authorized by the US administration reportedly. Israel used centrifuges to test out the computer worm  taking Teheran’s nuclear program as its target to destroy. Everything was executed in a planned way with the authority of Bush administration, the report revealed.

The virus was first tested in Dimona, reported English daily from the United States. The centrifuges used by Israel for testing Stuxnet were very similar to those used Iranian nuclear sites.

In 2008, Siemens allowed the Idaho National Laboratory, to rectify problems in its computer controllers. The same computer controllers were present in the Iranian nuclear plants. Idaho National Laboratory is part of the American Energy Department that provides nuclear equipment and weapons to the United States. Testing of Stuxnet was based on the problems in the computer controllers of nuclear programs found in 2008.

The virus destroyed control over the Iranian nuclear centrifuges and recorded all activities going at the nuclear plant. When checked by the operators, the virus showed a normal routine of the plant and this confused the operators.  They stayed unaware till all the centrifuges were destroyed.

The Stuxnet virus entered the nuclear plant’s computer network through some external drives or probably through the internet. The virus was partially successful as it delayed Iran’s nuclear development, however could not completely destroy their sites.

George W. Bush, former president of the United States had allowed dissemination of this worm in 2009 reportedly and Barack Obama too nodded to develop the virus further.

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Obama adds Clinton-era policy adviser Bruce Reed in team

US Vice President Biden recommended Clinton era policy adviser Bruce Reed  as the new head for his team. This is an addition all veteran members of Clinton’s administration, who had been given key responsibilities in Obama administration.

Democrat leader Reed replaces Ron Klain as domestic policy adviser whereas Klain will now work for former AOL chairman Steve Case in his business and charity works.

The reshuffle of staffs in the White House indicates the changing political scenario in US post-Nov elections. Reed had played a key role during Clinton’s rule in promoting free trade and minimize deficit. Moderates are happy for the return of Clinton’s right wings and hope their experiences would manage the US economy in more efficient way.

Reed has also served in Obama’s deficit reduction panel as executive director. He is considered as an expert to handle issues of budget deal and social security.

Bruce Reed is going to play a crucial role in the deficit commission, stated a white House official. He would be carving out strategies to set priorities for the budget and social security deals.

However, William Galston, Clinton’s ex-policy adviser has termed this reshuffle a blunder citing Reed’s past work against the liberal views.

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US doubts Chinese leadership ‘disconnected’ from military

US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, visits Japan to discuss on Tokyo’s military role in East Asian region. The diplomat also aimed to get an assurance for US for no further threats from N Korea and China and enhance US-Japan military ties.

The stealth fighter’s test flight by China has worried the United States and US doubts whether there is any cooperation among military and politicians in China, Gates revealed  on Friday.

China had tested J-20 fighter on Tuesday, during US diplomat’s visit to Beijing. However, Chinese President Hu Jintao stated that he was not aware of any such test when asked by Robert Gates.

China had tested an anti-satellite missile in 2007 and there was a conflict between a U.S. surveillance ship  and Chinese ship in waters of the South China Sea in 2009. This was also an incident that reflected poor coordination between Chinese Government and the military as the leaders were not even informed regarding these tests and conflicts.

However, Gates clarified that he had no doubt over President Hu Jintao’s leadership quality and his administration.

The US defense secretary also did not point out whether the nuclear weapons of China were under the control of military or the civilian government.

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US not to desert Pakistan in aftermath of Afghan war: Biden

ISLAMABAD:–Vice President Biden said that the United States will not desert Pakistan in the aftermath of Afghan war. He rejected the notions of many who believe that the US is seeking help of Pakistan for the sake of own interests in the region and will ditch its ties once its objective is attained.

During his unexpected one-day visit to Islamabad, Biden said that both countries are successfully fighting war against terror and it is in the interest of both the United States and Pakistan that al-Qaeda and other militant groups are defeated. While addressing media persons along with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Taza Gillani, Biden said that the Islamist extremists are defaming the country’s name and threatening its sovereignty. He further said that the main objective of the US administration is to strengthen sovereignty in the region and bring back peace and normalcy in the lives of Pakistani people.

The US vice president reached Islamabad on Wednesday and it is being said that the objective behind the visit could be pressurizing Pakistan to review its economic policy and making its government think seriously about tackling extremists. During his visit, Biden had a detailed discussion with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, President Asif Ali Zardari and Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani.

According to president office, President Zardari assured Biden that Pakistan will keep fighting against all odds and come out a winner in its war against terror and a handful of militants cannot enforce their inhuman agenda on the people of Pakistan.