India: Chasing Votes
India: Chasing Votes Ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh (UP) elections which will begin on February 6, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra — a member of India’s famous Nehru-Gandhi family —stated last week that she is willing to play a larger role in the Congress Party’s campaign to help her brother, Rahul Gandhi, who is leading campaign. This has fuelled speculation about Vadra entering politics full time. Vadra has spent most of her life outside of the political limelight but is widely believed to hold great clout amongst voters. Meanwhile, on January 23 a shoe was hurled at Gandhi during an election rally. Some suspect that the BJP may have played a role in the incident and the Congress has called for a thorough investigation.

Pakistan: A Decisive Moment
Pakistan: A Decisive Moment On January 19, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani appeared before the supreme court to face charges of holding the court in contempt for not pursuing an investigation of corruption charges against Zardari. Proceedings are currently adjourned until February 1. Though Gilani has stood by his decision, the fact that he stood before the Supreme Court has received great praise throughout the country for upholding the law and the integrity of the judiciary. As a result, it is now Zardari who is back on the hot seat. The legality of the immunity he currently enjoys has been a major story in recent days. Though the January 19 court session saw Gilani’s lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, agree to begin debating the legality of Zardari’s immunity, his stance seems clear. On January 23, Ahsan stated that the constitution provides immunity to the President of Pakistan and “he doesn’t need to approach a court to seek it,” as reported by the Pakistan Tribune .

Indonesia: Trial Turnaround
Indonesia: Trial Turnaround Two separate hearings on January 19 failed to clarify the role of Muhammad Nazaruddin, the former treasurer of the Democratic Party, in a company called the Permai Group, which allegedly bribed high-ranking politicians in an attempt to win tender for last year’s Southeast Asian Games athletes village project. Businesswoman Mindo Rosalina Manulang had alleged on January 16 that Nazaruddin distributed 20 billion rupiah (US$2.2 million) to various officials. Major developments took place this week in the graft trial of Muhammad Nazuruddin, the former treasurer of the Democratic Party. Nazuruddin’s role in the Permai Group — which allegedly bribed high-ranking politicians in an attempt to win tender for last year’s Southeast Asian Games athletes village project — became clearer on January 25 when a key witness testified against him. Yulianis, a former deputy financial at the Permai Group told the court that Nazurddin was the mastermind behind the bribery and acted as a middle man between the Youth and Sport Ministry and PT Duta Graha Indah (DGI), the contractor that won the project.

Philippines: Court Inaction
Philippines: Court Inaction On January 25, speculation was rife that Chief Justice Renato Corona, currently under an impeachment trial for corruption, was going to resign. However, Corona’s defense team has been quick to deny the rumours. “From day one, the Chief Justice has already said he will fight this battle head on. The fight has just begun for the defense[…..],” defense spokesperson Karen Jimeno told ABS-CBNnews.com . Meanwhile, also on January 25, the defense team won a minor victory in the trial when the prosecution decided to drop and article of its complaint. The article related to Corona allegedly accumulating ill-gotten wealth, assets and bank accounts of high values.

India: Chasing Votes

Ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh (UP) elections which will begin on February 6, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra... Read more

Posted: 26/01/12

Pakistan: A Decisive Moment

On January 19, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani appeared before... Read more

Posted: 26/01/12

Indonesia: Trial Turnaround

Two separate hearings on January 19 failed to clarify the role of... Read more

Posted: 26/01/12

Philippines: Court Inaction

On January 25, speculation was rife that Chief Justice Renato Corona, currently under an impeachment trial for... Read more

Posted: 26/01/12

The Japanese Invasion of Burma

The Japanese invasion of Burma on January 20, 1942 that expelled the weak British, Indian and Chinese forces from the country was one of Japan’s final major military successes on land during World War II.

Read more

Posted: 20/01/12    

The Bloody Birth of Bangladesh

On 16 December 1971, the Indian army forced the ‘unconditional surrender’ of 90,000 Pakistani troops occupying East Pakistan after a decisive 14-day operation in support of the independence movement...

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Posted: 16/12/11    

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