Category Archives: Breaking News

Breaking news and latest news updates

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Senate approves nuclear arms treaty with Russia

Washington — The Senate approved the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, signed between USA and Russia, by a 71-26 vote.  For this important security issue even Republicans joined hands and ensured that the treaty was passed.

The treaty will allow each nation to verify nuclear installations of the other country. Each country will have to bring down their number of nuclear warheads to 1550 and nuclear launchers to 700.

President Barack Obama said after the treaty was approved, He further added that it was the most important arms control deal in last two decades. He hoped that the agreement would enhance US leadership to stop growth of nuclear armament and establish peace in the world without them. The agreement clearly shows unity between Republicans and Democrats on the matter of security.” Obama had singed the treaty with Russian President Medvedev in April.

This treaty was hailed by many senior political and had the support of military leaders. The treaty is expected to end the nuclear race between Russia and the USA. It would also prod other countries to regulate their nuclear arsenal plans.

The treaty also had the approval of a majority of Americans. A very recent poll result revealed that 73 percent of people polled approved the treaty and 24 percent rejected the treaty.

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Obama wins as Senate poised to pass Nuclear Treaty

Obama signs on START Treaty in Prague

Washington: The New START treaty between the United States and Russia is poised for ratification in the Senate giving a victory to the Obama administration and the White House campaign that tried hard for the approval of the treaty.

Even Republicans who are opposing the treaty are divided. The schism in the Republican Party got pronounced as eleven members of the party joined the Democrats on the issue and the party’s third most important leader, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee declared his support for the treaty.

The Obama administration has worked hard to see the treaty ratified. Efforts included the firming up of commitment to secure $80 billions for nuclear modernization in the USA.

The treaty restricts the signatory countries to limit their long-range nuclear missiles to 1550 from 2200 in seven years of signing it. Countries that ratify the treaty will limit the number of nuclear launchers to 700.

The treaty will have modes effects on the nuclear capabilities of the USA and Russia. But it can strengthen security relations with Russia and help in persuading other countries to reduce their nuclear arsenal.

Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said after the 67-28 vote, “We are on the brink of writing the next chapter in the 40-year history of wrestling with the threat of nuclear weapons.”

Alexander, rendered his support because he felt that the pact “leaves our country with enough nuclear warheads to blow any attacker to kingdom come. I’m convinced that Americans are safer and more secure with the New START treaty than without it.”

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Bad weather continues to affect UK flight operations

British Airways

Adding further to agonies of travelers, several airlines in UK thinking of cancellation of flights amidst nonstop snowfall and decreasing temperatures across Europe.

It would be a big disappointment for those who had planned to go on a Christmas vacation.

In a statement, British Airways has said that if weather continues to deteriorate further then there will be no other option than to cancel more flights to avoid any mishaps. The airline has said that its flights will be operated from Heathrow airport of London on Tuesday with just one of its two runways. As of now Heathrow airport is not fully functional as the major portion of the airport covered with snow.

As the number of international and domestic flights has been canceled, thousands of stranded passengers are forced to take refuge in the waiting room of the Heathrow airport, which is also known to be the world’s busiest airport.

The weather department has forecast severe snowfall and low temperatures in the coming week for most of the UK. Keeping in view the weather warnings, one can expect the travel disruptions to worsen further.

Meanwhile, the UK government has given a relaxation at Heathrow airport to night flights, can land until 0100 GMT each day until Christmas. The severe weather conditions have forced several airlines to cancel flights across Europe for many days.

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Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repealed, questions remain

Washington: While US President Obama is all set to sign the legislation into law which will allow gays to serve explicitly in the armed forces, the new law will not be implemented immediately and put on hold until certain technical concerns are addressed.

The major concern comes in the minds of US administrators regarding the new legislation is its impact on military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ theory, which stops gays and lesbian serving in the armed forces to reveal their sexual orientation, has been in place for past 17 years. The decision has been taken in the context of social implications to ex-President Truman’s 1948 executive order that recommends freedom and equality for every soldier serving the armed forces.

It will be noticeable that after the legislation taking form of law, how effective it proves and to what extent it is enforced.

Some people opine that there will be a sharp fall in the rate of discharge cases of gays. Military officials have given a clear indication that the law will be executed in a true manner. People believe that the time has changed, now the gay marriage is permitted in several states, views of society toward gays and lesbian have changed.

Most of the people in the United States see nothing wrong in gays and lesbians serving armed forces. The gay issue in the military has been a touchy issue for the administration. Until 1993, all recruits had to fill a column in the questionnaire asking about sexual orientation; if said yes, it means not eligible to join the military. So far, 13,500 military personnel have been dismissed under the law.

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CIA Official Leaves Islamabad Following Identity Exposure

CIA officals

A US intelligence official has been asked to return back from Pakistan after being identified by ISI. The top CIA official has been accused of spying by the Pakistan intelligence agency in reaction to the law suit against a Pakistani secret agent in New York reportedly. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, ISI chief has been accused of being involved in the Mumbai terrorist attacks by a New York court.

The CIA official has been called off in hurry following the US president’s warning to Pakistani diplomats against safeguarding terrorists in the country.

The US security official was continuously receiving life threats on phone after his identity was revealed in Islamabad.

Officials also revealed that they suspected Pakistani intelligence being operated in the United States. They added that the ISI– Directorate for Inter—Services Intelligence—Pakistan’s intelligence agency  had played a great role in identifying the CIA official in Islamabad probably in reaction to the case filed against the ISI chief over Mumbai attacks in Nov 2008.

This is likely to affect the diplomatic relations between the United States and Pakistan adversely.  CIA’s decision to call back its official also indicates the increasing conflict between the two countries which have been regarded as allies so far. There may be further increase in tension between the two nations in future as the United States is expected to pressurize Pakistan over safeguarding terrorists in its territory.

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ECOWAS Calls on Ivorian President To Resign

Gbagbo(L) Ouatarra (R): both claimed the presidency in polls after civil war

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) appealed to Ivory Coast’s President Laurent Gbagbo to resign, and avoid ‘unnecessary bloodshed’ in the country. There were violent clashes in Ivory Coast following Gbagbo’s denial from stepping down on Thursday and many protesters were killed.

Sonny Ugoh, ECOWAS communications director stated that there was an international consensus to pressurize Ivorian president to resign from the post and give power to the former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara.

The ECOWAS official justified the demonstration by the supporters of former Prime Minister Ouattara unless they were violent. He said that the government of Ivory coast should not suppress people’s right to demonstrate. A senior official of the US State department revealed that the United States would impose sanctions against Mr.  Gbagbo if he continued to deny from resigning. France and the African Union have also issued similar warning against the Ivory Coast president for his undemocratic behavior.

More violent protest followed the warnings by different countries. There were clashes between the pro-Gbago troops and Ouattara supporters in the city of Abidjan and also in the central Ivorian city of Tiebissou, leading to death of 30 people reportedly.

Mr. Ouattara appealed to his supporters to take hold of administrative buildings which were still under control of Mr. Gbagbo.

President Laurent Gbagbo and former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara  both declared themselves as winners in the previous polls after the 2002 civil war. The voting was done in order to reestablish peace in Ivory Coast after the civil war.  The ECOWAS official feared that the current crisis might hamper the economic development in the entire West African region.

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UK Court Grants Bail to WikiLeaks Chief

WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange

The WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange gets relief in the United Kingdom as a court granted him bail against rape allegations and charges of sexual assault. He is facing charges of rape and sexual assault in Sweden which he reportedly committed in August.

UK judge Duncan Ouseley accepted to release Assange on strict conditions following the decision of the City of Westminster. The court also released his passport. He checked in from a local police station in the night. The jury granted bail to WikiLeaks chief on Tuesday on a bail of$310,000, however within 2 hours his bail was cancelled against an appeal. It was then announced that Assange would be kept in custody for another 48 hours.

Assange needs to report in the court again on Jan 11 for next hearing over his extradition. He had surrendered to the British police last week. The 39 year old man, who has moved the entire world by disclosing confidential document of the US administration and many other countries is facing charges of sexual assault and rape which he denied.

Most of the diplomats and the US administration justified Assange’s arrest for disclosure of country’s confidential security information. The disclosure has hampered US reputation and its foreign relations.

Nonetheless, the Swedish court called his arrest as a consequent judiciary process following the charges of sexual assault and rape made against him and clarified that it had nothing to do with politics.

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Air Force Bans Sites Publishing WikiLeaks’ Documents

WikiLeaks

Washington: The Air Force has banned the websites of major dailies, news organizations and blogs which publish WikiLeaks documents, according to Air Force officials. The personnel have been asked not to view these sites on work computers until further clearance is issued.

The Air Force has issued warning against the violators and said that the legal actions would be taken if anyone tries to access the banned sites. But at the same time, the officials conceded that the enforcement of the decision might not be fully effective because the personnel who have access to these cables at homes would be able to read the secret documents. The Air Force cyber specialist team, however, has worked very hard on procedures to keep classified documents off unclassified computer terminals. Only those sites having entire set of classified documents, not just excerpts, have been be banned, according to Air Force officials.

Meanwhile, Spokesmen in the Army, navy and Marines have clarified that there is no such intention to ban the portals of news organizations as the US government has already issued a directive in which it explicitly mentioned that the federal employees and contractors should not read the secret WikiLeaks’ documents and other classified materials.

A senior official in the US administration has stated that the decision to allow certain departments and employees to access the secret cables was made in order to let them verify the impact of the documents leaking in the public domain and evaluate the damage done to country’s security.

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Veteran US diplomat Holbrooke passes away

Richard Holbrooke

Richard Holbrooke, an accomplished statesman for the United States known for his sharp understanding of international relations and politics, died at the age of 69.

The US State Department announced his demise in a statement on Dec 13 in Washington.

During his stint as a diplomat, Holbrooke had some unprecedented success to his name that no statesman could achieve in the United States. It was him who gave a new dimension to the diplomatic ties with China and also managed critical situation in Afghanistan.

Holbrooke was admitted in the hospital on Dec 10 and undergone a heart surgery. .While remembering his contributions to the US policies for Afghanistan, President Obama said that he was grateful to have a diplomat of Holbrooke’s calibre in his administration.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that Holbrooke had helped in shaping American history, managing complex international relations and  securing  better future for the people. “He will be remembered as a skillful diplomat, who was able to challenge dictators and fight for US interests even during critical hours,” she concluded.

Holbrooke had a vast experience as a statesman, who worked under four Democratic presidents, starting from Lyndon Johnson to Obama. People will never forget his vital role on Vietnam issue in the Johnson government. However, his best acclaimed work was ending the Bosnia war while working as a special mediator in the Clinton government.