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Republican race to White House
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Imran mulls civil disobedience
Imran’s ‘rise’ forces Nawaz-Zardari summit
NY attacker was upset at being denied use of bathroom
Ray Lazier (R), accused of involvement in hurling crude Molotov cocktails at an Islamic cultural centre and four other New York-area sites on New Year's Day, in Queens borough of New York.
— AP/PTI
France issues stamps on LTTE, Lanka fumes
Nepal NGO rescues over 170 women, kids
Lanka’s first all island census in 3 decades in March
After Bidve killing, Asian assaulted in Salford
Argentine Prez undergoes surgery
Asian assaulted in Salford
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Republican race to White House
Washington, January 4 Former Massachusetts governor Romney finally defeated Pennsylvania Senator Santorum by a wafer-thin margin of eight votes as official results came after hours of agonising wait in which both candidates kept leading and trailing each other. In fact, moments before the final tally, Santorum was leading by four votes, and the extent of the nail-biter can be gauged from the fact that at one point Romney was leading by a single vote. The Iowa caucus vote is a crucial first before the Republican battle for the White House challenge goes to New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida. From Iowa, candidates rush to New Hampshire for the next round of primaries on January 10. Romney got 30,015 votes while Santorum received 30,007 votes at end of the tally in which 1,22,255 votes were cast. While the contest ended up being neck and neck between Romney and Santorum, Texas Congressman Ron Paul was a crucial third angle to the battle, coming a close third with 21 per cent of the caucus votes. With a fractured result, the vote showed that the Republicans are divided over the choice and are yet to throw a clear answer as to what kind of candidate they would finally pick to mount a challenge to the incumbent Obama. The last time the Iowa caucuses produced such a close outcome was in 1980, when George Bush beat Ronald Reagan by two percentage points. Romney, who had initially expected to romp home comfortably in the first vote, refrained from claiming victory in his address to the support base in Iowa. In fact, he chose to share the credit with Santorum and Paul. “... congratulations to Rick Santorum, this has been a great victory for him and for his effort. He’s worked very hard in Iowa. We also feel this has been a great victory for us here. Ron Paul as well, had a great night,” Romney said. Santorum, who has surged ahead only in the last few weeks surprising many pollsters and even his rivals, argued for his conservative platform. “It’s now or never for Conservative voters,” he said in an email to his supporters. Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, ranked fourth in this race of seven Republican candidates, while Texas Governor Rick Perry, took the fifth slot, leaving behind Minnesota Congresswoman, Michele Bachmann, and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman at the bottom of the heap.
— PTI
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Imran mulls civil disobedience
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said he would escalate pressure on the government to step down or face a ‘civil disobedience movement’. The party’s central executive committee will discuss various options to mobilise the public against anti-people policies of the incumbent government, including a civil disobedience movement, at its next meeting on January 14, Imran said at a press conference here. Imran also ruled out an alliance with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League in the next General Election. He said Musharraf would face treason and murder charges when he returns to Pakistan. Former law minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri who has also joined the PTI debunked reports that he met Musharraf in Dubai and discussed possibility of alliance of his party with the PRI. Kasuri said it was a chance meeting at a wedding reception and he had exchanged only peasantries. On his own support to the former President’s referendum, Imran said it was a mistake: “I feel sorry for this wrong act.” The government has failed to resolve public issues, and “is backtracking on all accounts - economy, defence, good governance and inflation, Imran said. He said power outages, gas shortage and reckless repeated increase in prices of services have made life miserable for ordinary citizens.
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Imran’s ‘rise’ forces Nawaz-Zardari summit
Lahore:
Imran Khan’s sudden explosion on Pakistan’s political horizon seems to have shaken the country’s mainstream parties, with erstwhile foes PML-N and PPP proposing a summit, apparently to counter the threat from cricketer-turned-politician. Imran’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party has created a stir by holding a string of rallies across the nation in recent weeks, drawing massive crowds.
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NY attacker was upset at being denied use of bathroom New York, January 4 Ray Lazier Lengend has been charged with arson, arson as hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the firebombings on January 1, the police said here. Lengend, a naturalised US citizen from Guyana, had confessed to attacking the five locations with firebombs over the weekend, citing personal grudges. He was arrested after the police tracked down his car that was seen at the site of the attacks through surveillance cameras as well identified by few witnesses, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. He first attacked the convenience store as he was upset that he was thrown out after being caught stealing a Starbucks bottle and milk last month. In the other incident, he targeted the wrong house on a street in Queens from where he said he had once purchased crack cocaine. He attacked the Islamic centre as he was upset over being denied entry to use its bathroom. He had even made “sweeping anti-Muslim statements,” against the Islamic centre. He targeted a house in Elmont over claims of a familial problem. His final attack was on a residence that housed a small Hindu temple as a person against whom he once had a grudge had lived there.
— PTI
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France issues stamps on LTTE, Lanka fumes
The Tamil Tigers may have been militarily defeated but their supporters overseas continue to irk the Sri Lankan government.
The latest has been the issue of four stamps by “La Poste” of France depicting images related to the LTTE including its insignia, which has become a sticking point between the two countries with the French Ambassador to Colombo Christine Robichon being summoned by the External Affairs Minister GL Peiris on Tuesday to express government concern over the matter. The Sri Lankan Minister told the Ambassador that while the publishing of these stamps had not been facilitated by the Government of France, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that such publication should not have happened and their circulation be cancelled with immediate effect. The Embassy of France in Colombo said these stamps are neither a part of the official philatelic programme of France nor on sale in the French Post Office and those who published them had used the online service offered by “La Poste” through which customers could order limited quantities of personalised stamps under their responsibility and specific conditions.
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Nepal NGO rescues over 170 women, kids
Kathmandu, January 4 Maiti Nepal, an organisation working to prevent girls trafficking and rehabilitation, said its Burgunj office had rescued 60 women and children, who were reeling under labour, physical and sexual exploitation in various cities of India and third world countries during the period. The highest numbers of those rescued are from Sarlahi, Rautahat and Mahottari, national news agency RSS reported. As many as 67 women and children belonging to these districts were rescued, said Sangeeta Puri of Maiti Nepal, Birgunj Unit.
— PTI
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Lanka’s first all island census in 3 decades in March
Colombo, January 4 Vidyaratne said data collection of occupied homes and information gathering of persons who have gone abroad for a duration of more than six months will happen between February 27 and March 19. A census of homeless people would be conducted on the night of March 19. The last national census was conducted in 2002, but was limited to the areas other than the north and east, as the LTTE led separatist war made it difficult to hold it throughout.
— PTI
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After Bidve killing, Asian assaulted in Salford London, January 4 The police said after leaving a takeaway with some food, the Asian was followed by four youths, one of whom was on a bike, and asked: “What have you got in your pockets?” The Asian ran off after being assaulted by the person on the bike, but the group chased him and later all four assaulted him. He was punched on the head by the offenders, who tried to steal his phone. During the attack one of the assailants shouted racist abuse at him, the police said. The victim suffered cuts, swelling and bruising and went to hospital for treatment. Three of the four offenders were described as white, while one had dark skin. — PTI
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Varsity to refund Bidve’s fees The body of Anuj Bidve has been released by the coroner to a funeral company in London, from where it is expected to be taken to India for final rites. Bidve’s family is scheduled to arrive in London soon to take the body back to India. Lancaster University, where Bidve was studying, has said it will refund his fee. The Bidve family had reportedly raised a loan against their house in Pune to finance his study. — PTI
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Argentine Prez undergoes surgery
Buenos Aires, January 4 Dr Pedro Saco is leading the operation at private hospital in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. He is a veteran Argentine oncologist who specialises in cancers of the head and neck. Fernandez flew to the Hospital Austral by helicopter early Wednesday and went under anesthesia several hours later.
— AP
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Asian assaulted in Salford
London, January 4
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New York, January 4
