Yearender 2011 :A year of revolutions,upheavals and slow downs

Middle East and North African region witnessed unprecedented unheaveals that led to to the toppling of decades old dictatorial regimes of Ben Ali , Hosni Mubarak and Muammer Gaddafi and  Tunisia, Libya and Egypt are still struggling to get the democratic process established.The social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter played a crucial role in mobilizing the protests.

The Eurozone countries are still struggling to survive  from the prevailing debt crisis.The US economy

North Korea after Kim Jong II

After the succession process of Kim Jong un in North Korea following the death of his father Kim Jong-Il gets completed , the world leaders  will be watching  the direction in which the young leader takes his country. The matters relating to domestic reforms ,

Russia becomes WTO member

Published on 16 December 2011 and republished again


Russia finally joins the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday at a ceremony in Switzerland after 18 years of intense negotiations for its membership.

Russians Begin Voting in Parliamentary Elections

Russians are voting to elect the State Duma -- lower house of the Parliament on Sunday that is expected to hand victory to Vladimir Putin's party United Russia.

Why US should diplomatically handle Iran?

:While policy makers and experts are finding it hard to predict the future of the ongoing upheavals in the Gulf region and the recent report of IAEA accusing Iran of developing nuclear weapon has added another dimension to the Mid east problem.

Israel appears  intent to avail this opportunity  for bombing nuclear facilities of Iran with the support of US but fails to recognize that it has already isolated itself  from the world community by repeatedly pursuing disproportionate aggressive  actions against the Palestine and gaza .

The US  also may not be able to Agree to such a  move  because  of its economic  recession, severe financial constraint and its utterly complicated  position in Iraq ,Afghanistan and tribal belt of Pakistan .



If both US, Isarel attack Iran


--Then A Block will be created  consisting  of Iran, Syria , Lebanon, Palestine  and other countries in the muslim world .

Tunisians votes in historic elections

 Tunisians began voting on Sunday in its first-ever free elections with an Islamic party poised to win.7.2 million Tunisians to elect a constituent assembly that will pave the way

Israel - Palestinians begins prisoners swap

 The much-awaited prisoner exchange between Israel and the Islamist hamas movement began before dawn on Tuesday under a landmark deal to swap 1,027

Al Qaeda linked cleric Anwar al-Awlaki killed in Yemen

Yemen’s Defense Ministry said the Yemeni-American Al Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed during an airstrike on Friday.

The Yemeni defense ministry said  Al -Awlaki ,40 year old was killed alongwith several other suspected al Qaeda operatives. The United States has al-Awlaki,who has found refuge in Yemen was  on a kill-or-capture list.

Awlaki was the regional commander of Al Qaeda . The US has  warned that al-Awlaki is dangerous, committed to carrying out deadly attacks on Americans and others worldwide.

Yemeni security officials believed Al -Awlaki is thought to have been killed during airstrikes carried out by U.S. aircraft on Friday that targeted  a convoy of cars in the eastern province of   al-Jawf and Marib regions.

After Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad in Pakistan by US Navy SEALS , but the hunt is on for remaining leaders of al-Qaida and the other terrorist groups who continue to pose a threat to Americans.


  .

Awalaki was linked to the 2009 Christmas Day "underwear bomber" plot -- a narrowly foiled bid to blow up a passenger jet approaching Detroit.

In July,Government-backed Yemeni tribesmen joined the fight against al Qaeda-linked militants in a lawless southern province in Yemen.

Government troops have been struggling to contain Islamic militants in the southern Abyan province after losing control of the provincial capital, Zinjibar, and another town, Jaar, earlier this year.

There are concerns that the Islamic militants linked with al-Qaida are exploiting Yemen's political turmoil and are seeking to expand their influence amid a monthslong popular uprising that seeks to oust Saleh.

Islamic militants have seized control of a number of towns and the provincial capital of the southern province of Abyan.

The West views al-Qaida branch in Yemen as the most active and dangerous, and has been linked to several nearly successful attacks on U.S. targets, including bombs into U.S.-addressed parcels that made it onto cargo flights last year.

Meanwhile Saleh  is still recuperating in Saudi Arabia after a June attack on his compound in Yemen's capital, Sanaa.

Pak lashes out at US for linking ISI with Haqqani group

Pakistan's foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Thursday the United States risks losing an ally if it continues to point fingers at  Islamabad.

The tensions are fast escalating between Pakistan and US after  Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Mike Mullen has accused Pakistani intelligence

Mid- East uprisings in the context of flawed US policies : Iran MP

 Ms Fatemeh Alia ,member  of Iranian delegation and of the national security and foreign affairs commission of parliament (Islamic consultative assembly) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, came to India to attend three days seminar with the theme

Explosions near US embassy in Afghanistan

At least one explosion accompanied by gunfire close to the United States Embassy in Afghanistan was reported by eyewitnesses on Tuesday .The Taliban launched an attack on  NATO's coalition force headquarters close to the US embassy in Kabul

Explosions and a gun battle broke out outside US embassy in central Kabul.A large plume of smoke  was seen emanating from the embassy area in  Kabul.

Police said "Insurgents are firing rockets  towards the  US embassy ."Meanwhile the entire area has been cordoned off and the roads have been closed .


People  heard a string of loud blasts while police confirmed one explosion and a gunfight in the city centre.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on US embassy in Kabul.

More details are awaited .

On the 10th anniversary of September 11 , al Qaeda's attack on the United States,Taliban militants struck a coalition base in Afghanistan on Sunday ,injuring 90 NATO soldiers including 50 American soldiers.

A bomber detonated his explosives-laden car at the entrance to Combat Outpost Sayed Abad in Wardak province late on Saturday.

The Taliban claimed responsibility on their Internet site for Saturday's attack. Last month insurgents  shot down a U.S. Chinook helicopter in Sayedabad district of Wardak province , killing 30 American troops, the majority of them Navy SEALs, including some from the unit responsible for the  killing of  Osama bin Laden.
President Barack Obama has vowed that the United States will not waver in its fight against terrorism, as his predecessor said Americans will "never forget" 9/11 and the heroes who helped defend the country.

A decade of fighting in Afghanistan began with Operation Enduring Freedom and snowballed into a huge effort currently involving around 140,000 troops from 48 countries.

 Of 100,000 US troops in Afghanistan, 33,000 will leave by mid-2012, even as a still-potent Taliban insurgency is focused on headline-grabbing suicide attacks against government officials and foreign targets.

Government fast losing ground on Anna’s movement

Since day one of Anna’s ‘protest fast’ against corruption  and movement  in support of strong Jan lokpal Bill capable of really eradicating corruption that has  so badly  and overwhelmingly percolated  the government administration /system, the government has been caught on a wrong foot one after the other. First, putting unreasonable and inacceptable  conditions  on these protests through the agency of police and then ministers parading the relevance of the provisions  of criminal Procedure Code  was nothing short of  an affront to the public mind already  suffering under the scourge  of corruption . No wonder the ‘protest fast ‘ immediately  turned  into a  public outrage erupting simultaneously  in different cities of the country.The delay in allotting suitable venue made theprotest march swell to the most disproportionate levels.

Thereafter studied silence on the part of  the prime minister in additional  to his defence  of “official Lokpal Bill” that seeks to prosecute  the whistle blower even with two years of imprisonment  while giving opportunities  for  defence  to culprits , has come as handy ammunition with  the team Anna for blowing government’s reasoning/intentions to pieces.

While ministers  are supposed  to act as ‘ servants of society’ with respect to their  duties  towards the people, in terms of  political philosophy, the congress ministers have  been crowing about their authority as legislators , without recognizing  the suffering of the people under the menace of  corruption. The protests have  thus acquired  the character of a movement spreading rapidly even globally with Indian community  protesting  in London , New York and elsewhere .This has brought disrepute to the Indian political  system and even discredited  the Congress ,though a political party of India with 125 years of standing .The party of this stands ridiculed domestically   and internationally  with irreparable loss.

Had the official Lokpal bill  been drafted  in a spirit of meaningful  understanding  and cooperation  with the representative of civil society keeping the problem of corruption  in mind, Congress would not have found itself  in such a sorry state of pass. In addition to uncaring attitude of ministers ,even the prime minister was not found head and shoulders above his team of ministers to impart sanity and wisdom  to tackle the problem.While the public anger  was gathering steam in a most unprecedented  manner in kilometers  long marches ,the ministers  were turning out stereotype statements referring to constitutional provisions  otherwise  very well known to the present educated  youth of the country.Ironically no lessons  have been learnt  from the most  shaking happenings  of Mid –East while  our leadership was lecturing on the happenings in Libya , Syria and Egypt.

While team Anna  has astutely stolen much of the dignity of  the Congress party,BJP as the main opposition has finalized its strategy to take on the Congress  inside  and outside the Parliament .

Immediate dialogue with the Anna team  can only tackle the political crisis and save Congress from further damage .

Anna calls for 'second freedom struggle

Social Activist Anna Hazare was welcomed by thousands of supporters outside Tihar  jail  where Anna stressed upon countrymen that second freedom struggle has  started  and we shouldn't let this spirit die down until we achieve the dream of corruption free India.


The Gandhian leader said at  Tihar gate that  "Anna or without Anna the agitition for a corruption free bharat would go on".Further adding     "We got freedom in 1947. Now the second freedom struggle has begun on August 16. A revolution has started. The fight against corruption will continue whether I am alive or not."

He thanked peoplefor their support and vowed to continue the agitaion till logical conclusion. Chanding "Vande mataram" to the crowd who have waited for him for 4 days Anna announced that second struggle for  freedom has begun.





Large sections of Indian society came out in support of Mr Hazare’s demand for a strong ‘Jan Lok Pal Bill’ to fight political and administrative corruption.





Thousands of  supporters  are chanting pro Anna slogans  "Anna hum tumahre saath hai " . Anna began his march in majestic manner in an open large vehicle just like Jaganath Yatra. Thousands of people were moving along with the vehicle. The sight was spectacular.



Reminding people of quit India movement , the Indian people  are fighting for  a cause . Anna himself said that it started with fight against corruption but would end with change in the system.



On the other hand, thousands of people have gathered at Ramlila ground where Anna Hazare would reach finally.His associate Kiran Bedi is holding the crowd as incessant rain is also continuing.




A  mass movement  against corruption has started in India ,Anna  Hazare ,the leader of young generation of India  said people were fed up of corruption and the government should not take long to bring a strong Lokpal Bill.






When Anna was arrested on 16 August , he said "I once again request my fellow countrymen that peace should be maintained and there must be no violence...Crores of people have joined this movement and second line of leaders are standing to lead this movement." "





This entire movement  took momemtum  after the arrest of Anna Hazare, Arvind  Kejriwal, Bedi, Prashant Bhusan,Manish Sisodia and  Anna said  "There are many who will continue to lead you and this fight will go on."
 



The Gandhian was taken into custody on August 16  from a residential area in Mayur Vihar before he was to proceed to the venue of his fast where prohibitory orders are in place.

Syria: Assad terms uprising a conspiracy

At least 150 people were killed in Syria on Sunday ,as the Syrian military launched an attack on the flashpoint protest city of Hama on the eve of the Muslim holy month

West moves to split Taliban , Alqaeda in UN list

India is worried after the US and European countries   moved a draft UN Security Council resolution to separate the Taliban from al-Qaeda in the UN sanctions regime, a political gesture that could spur possible reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

Political upheavals to decide Iran’s role in Mid –East

Analysts and policy experts   are prominently arguing about  the affects that political upheavals in Mid-East may have  on the internal political dynamics  of Iran. With memories of debates  that  raged between  Mir Hossein Mousavi and former speaker Mehdi Karroubi reformists and the hardliners camps after the elections in 2009 still fresh in their minds, some