Asian Lite News Archive

Category: -Top News

  • MCR hosts mosque /synagogue twinning

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    Several members of the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester and other members of the Muslim and Jewish communities in Manchester took part in a worldwide twinning event in which local Mosques were twinned with local Synagogues. This was organised internationally by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. In Manchester this twinning took place between Manchester…

  • Black money rocks parliament

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      The issue of black money rocked the Lok Sabha on the first working day of parliament’s winter session , as several opposition parties tried to corner the government over the issue. As soon as the house met for the day, Trinamool Congress (TMC) members went near the speaker’s podium with black umbrellas raising slogans…

  • The Four Musketeers: Khamenei, Bibi, Putin and Erdogan

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    By Alon Ben-Meir,  professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU   As it happened, Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan were all walking in one of the UN’s corridors. To show that he is just an ordinary human being and a humble man, Khamenei shouted, ‘hey Vladimir, Tayyip, Bibi,…

  • Employment rate for BME people highest on record

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    Employment for people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds has reached a record high with unemployment falling across all ethnic groups, according to new official statistics. The figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that there are 166,000 more people from BME backgrounds in work compared to this time last year, bringing the…

  • US lauds India’s stance on WTO

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    Ahead of the minister level meeting of the Trade Policy Forum (TPF), the first in four years, US Trade Representative Michael Froman  described the agreement reached by India and the US on the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) aimed at unlocking progress at the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a “big deal”. “The TFA…

  • DVLA to auction private number plates

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    DVLA Personalised Registrations’ 25th Anniversary Auction later this week could prove to be a battle of the supercar brands in terms of which particular lot comes out on top as the historic sale’s most expensive. While there are 1,600 lots aimed at all tastes and budgets listed in the three-day sale being held at The…

  • Israel postpones controversial nation bill

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    Israeli politicians decided  to postpone by one week a planned vote on a controversial bill due to political quarrels that could possibly threaten the stability of the governing coalition, a parliament spokesperson confirmed to Xinhua. Sunday, the Israeli cabinet voted in favour of a bill proposal known as the “Jewish nation law” after heated debate.…

  • US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel to resign

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      US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will step down from his post after coming under pressure from President Barack Obama, The New York Times reported . The president is expected to announce Hagel’s resignation in a Rose Garden appearance Monday, the daily said, adding that the removal of Hagel – the sole Republican on his…

  • Oman considering to tax expats on remittance

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    The proposal for a two percent levy on the billions of rials that expatriates send home every year has been approved by Oman’s Majlis al-Shura, or the lower house of the council of Oman, to overcome a budget deficit due to drop in oil prices, a media report said. “The approval to tax expatriate remittances…

  • British troops withdraw from southern Afghanistan

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    British service personnel have left southern Afghanistan after completing the “most challenging” military redeployment operation of the generation, the British ministry of defence (MoD) announced . Britain’s Union Jack flag was lowered at Kandahar airfield in southern Afghanistan over the weekend. British Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel have operated in the region since 2001, Xinhua…

  • India can touch $10 tn economy by 2034: PwC

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     Launching a report on transformational change in India, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said India has an opportunity to build a $10 trillion economy by 2034 with a growth rate of 9 percent per annum. Titled “Future of India: The Winning Leap”, the report “builds an aspirational model prepared after meeting business leaders and social thinkers and identifies…

  • Afghanistan suicide attack toll hits 57

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      The toll in the suicide bomb attack at a volleyball match in Afghanistan at the weekend has risen to 57, with 66 injured being treated in hospital, authorities said . According to the government of Paktika province where the attack took place, 42 people were killed on the spot in the blast Sunday and…

  • H1N1 kills ducks in Kerala

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     Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has called for a high-level meeting to discuss the reports of the deaths of ducks in Alapuzha due to avian influenza virus, a Kerala minister said . Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar told the media here that there is no need for any panic. “All arrangements are being made to stock…

  • A cradle which saved 100 female infants

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    Gaurav Sharm reports on a cradle at Udaipur, in Indian state of Rajasthan, which saved over 100 female infants  Nearly three years ago, Radha, an infant then, was found lying in thorny bushes in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh district. The palm-sized girl child was badly bruised and almost dead. Today, Radha is a chirpy curly-haired girl with…

  • CURRENCY CORNER- Indian Equity Bulls

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    Indian equity bulls shouldn’t anticipate further crude price decline … reports Vatsal Srivastava  Oil is in a bear market. Over the past few months, both major crude benchmarks – Brent and Western Texas Intermediate (WTI) – have corrected by over 25-30 percent from their 2014 peak. Interestingly, and as it often happens in the financial markets,…

  • World News In Pictures

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  • Rampal’s expansion plans go bust

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    By Jaideep Sarin   Just before his run-in with the law that landed him behind bars with serious charges such as murder, sedition and other cases slapped on him, self-styled godman Rampal had embarked on well-thought plans for expansion of his sect. Police and district authorities are now probing the sources of funding of the controversial…

  • Arpita & Ayush’s wedding reception a star studded event

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    After a starry wedding at Hyderabad, newly-wed Arpita Khan and Ayush Sharma had a star-studded reception Friday evening in Mumbai. The event was graced by the who’s who from the film industry. While the entire Khan family, including Salman Khan, Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora Khan and Salim Khan were present at this event,…

  • Police Recruit Public In Fight againt violent extremists

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    The British public and businesses are being recruited in an unprecedented drive to counter the threat posed by violent extremists operating in UK. Across the country, counter-terror officers will spend this week briefing more than 6,000 people at 80 venues including schools, universities, airports, shopping centres, cinemas and farms, in a bid to raise awareness of…

  • Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2014

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    Actress Esha Gupta with fashion designer Neeta Lulla at the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2014, in Gurgaon.

  • Hamilton admits of no sleep the night before

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    Newly crowned Formula 1 World champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed he hardly slept the night before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which he eventually won to clinch his second drivers’ title. The 29-year-old Briton entered the season-ending race needing a win to guarantee himself the title, and proceeded to dominate the event at Yas…

  • Ghoncheh Ghavami gets bail

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    The British-Iranian woman, who was jailed after attempting to watch a men’s volleyball match in Tehran has been released on bail, media reported . The family of the 25 year-old Ghoncheh Ghavami said that she has been freed on bail until her court appeal, after she staged hunger strikes and hundreds of thousands of people…

  • Israeli cabinet pushes to make country a ‘Jewish state’

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    The Israeli cabinet approved a bill , which enshrines in law that Israel is the national homeland of the Jewish people and that this right is unique to them. Fifteen ministers voted in favour of the bill and seven against it, including Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, according to a spokesperson for the prime minister’s office,…

  • Sachin refuses to comment on Mudgal Report

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    Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar refused to comment on Justice Mudgal Commitee’s report on the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing and betting scandal. Tendulkar, a Rajya Sabha member, said here that the Supreme Court will look into the case, and it was not wise for him to make a comment. “The honorable Supreme Court…

  • NHS staff on four hour strike

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    NHS workers, including nurses, midwives and ambulance staff, are staging four-hour strikes in England and Northern Ireland as part of a pay dispute. They are protesting about the decision not to implement a 1% rise for all staff recommended by a pay review body reported BBC. Member of nine unions walked out at 07:00 GMT…

  • Pannerselvam write to Modi on fishermen

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    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct the external affairs ministry to secure the release of 38 Indian fishermen from Sri Lankan jails. “May I request you to instruct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter immediately and ensure the prompt release of the 38 fishermen,…

  • Murli Deora 1937-2014

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    Veteran Congress leader and former union minister Murli Deora died here  following a brief illness. He was 77. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a leader with a “warm nature”. Murli Deora died around 3.30 a.m., said Congress leader Sachin Sawant. He is survived by his wife and two sons, including former union minister…

  • India does not rule out Sharif meet

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    India  did not rule out a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit, saying that Modi is keen to have meaningful dialogues with as many south Asian leaders as possible. India also said that there was already a framework between the two…

  • Modi hopes for productive winter session

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi  expressed confidence that the winter session of parliament beginning  will be as productive as the budget session. Addressing an all-party meeting convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minster M.Venkaiah Naidu here, he said his government will continue to talk to the opposition and other parties during the session. Modi also his referred to…

  • Carlsen retains world chess title

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    By Venkatachari Jagannathan World chess champion, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen retained his title, defeating Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand in the 11th round of their title match at Russia . The reigning world champion called off the exchange/sacrifice blunder or bluff of Anand on move 24 and wrapped up the 12 game in 45 moves. Interestingly Anand…

  • Hamilton seals F1 drivers title

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    British racing driver Lewis Hamilton clinched his second Formula 1 drivers’ title as he comprehensively won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the 5.5 km Yas Marina Circuit here Starting second behind Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, Hamilton had to finish second if Rosberg won the race to seal the title in his favour. However,…

  • SPECIAL REPORT: Afro-pop music

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    Afro-pop musician who sings for African women…reports Mohammed Shafeeq  Disowned by her family for daring to challenge traditions by acting in films, Fatoumata Diawara ran away from home to act in theatre. She now sings not just for her passion but for women and children of Africa. Currently based in Paris, the singer for Mali, in…

  • House for sale to make films – Kerala style

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    They were known for selling houses to buy visas to get a job in the Middle East. Now the Keralites are selling their precious assets to make movies Over 100 Malayalam films are made every year, but it is not a cash rich industry. The new producers of Kerala often sell property or borrow money…

  • Rajnath, Parrikar sing different tunes on Chinese troops

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    By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar   Repeated incursion by the Chinese troops into Indian territory have elicited divergent, at times almost contradictory, opinions from key cabinet ministers. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing a rally in Leh in poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir , said the breach of the border did not augur well for cordial relations between the Asian…

  • Modi magic working on the economy?

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    By Arvind Padmanabhan  An area that evoked much expectation from the people when the Narendra Modi-led majority government took the reins over six months ago was economic revival, as it was seen as spurring growth, creating jobs, stabilizing prices and boosting incomes. India was faltering on all the four counts. As we take stock of…

  • Sharif say no to elections before 2018

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      Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said  that a general election would not be held in the country before 2018. He thus rejected the demands by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for early elections, a Dawn online report said. The PTI has been holding countrywide demonstrations in protest of the government’s alleged corruption and rigging…

  • Kerala Catholics overjoyed over sainthood

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    Kerala’s Catholic community was overjoyed and held special prayers as the Pope will elevate two Keralite religious leaders as saints at a special service in the Vatican Sunday. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, popularly known as Chavara Achen, and Sister Euphrasia, popularly known as Evuprasiamma, were in April this year cleared by the Pope for sainthood. Catholic…

  • China holds the key for regional peace

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    India’s ambivalence on China can derail regional groupings… writes Subir Bhaumik   A senior diplomat recently told a seminar in Kolkata that India joins too many regional groupings, some of them overlapping, and then not doing anything worthwhile to carry forward their intended agendas. The message from this former ambassador to three countries was clear: Only when…

  • ANALYSIS: 6 months of Modi Rule

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    Right noises on economy, time for action…says Arvind Padmanabhan by analysing the  six months of Modi rule An area that evoked much expectation from the people when the Narendra Modi-led majority government took the reins over six months ago was economic revival, as it was seen as spurring growth, creating jobs, stabilizing prices and boosting incomes.…

  • NHS deploys volunteers to fight Ebola in Sierra Leone

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    More than 30 NHS staff from across the UK will depart for Sierra Leone today to join Britain’s fight against Ebola, International Development Secretary Justine Greening and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt have announced. They are the first group of NHS volunteers to be deployed by the UK Government. After arriving in the capital, Freetown, early…

  • Psychiatrist on standby if Hamilton loses F1 title

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      Formula One team and 2014 constructor standings leaders, Mercedes have readied New Zealand sports psychiatrist Ceri Evans if their British driver Lewis Hamilton, who leads teammate Nico Rosberg by 17 points going into the final race in Abu Dhabi, loses his title bid. Hamilton has 10 wins to his name compared to his German…

  • NASA’s flying saucer among the best

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    NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD), a spacecraft that aims to facilitate the safe landing of future Mars missions, has earned a place in the the Popular Science magazine’s “Best Of What’s New” list. The NASA project, also known as the “flying saucer”, won the award in the aerospace category. “Landing safely on an alien planet…

  • Nisha Biswal headed to India

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      US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal is heading to India  ahead of President Barack Obama’s January visit to join India’s Republic Day parade as chief guest. The State Department announcement of Biswal’s trip to India “for internal consultations and bilateral meetings” came shortly after the White House announced Obama’s…

  • NRI helping to light up Gambia

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    By Francis Kokutse   Like many Indians who are proving to be philanthropists around Africa, Ram Mohan has set up a social business called Comafrique Intelizon Initiative and has embarked on the replacement of candles in villages in the Gambia with solar lights from India. “This is an initiative that must be applauded,” Abdou Jallow, a…

  • Modi calls to end dynastic rule in J&K

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday exhorted people in this Jammu and Kashmir town to unshackle themselves from the yoke of dynastic rule and promised to make the state the “ultimate tourist destination in the world”. Modi said that Jammu and Kashmir had been held hostage by two families for over 50 years — without naming…

  • Indian techies lose out on Obama immigration plan

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    As President Barack Obama campaigned to sell his immigration plan to shield up to five million people from deportation and retain high-skilled immigrants, largely from India and China, analysts called it a mixed bag. Obama’s plan, according to the White House, “focuses on cracking down on illegal immigration at the border; deporting felons, not families;…

  • Saeed Naqvi reviews Middle East politics

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    Release Of Al Jazeera journalists will confirm regional realignment …writes Saeed Naqvi My crystal ball tells me that the three Al Jazeera journalists, incarcerated in Cairo for the past six months, are about to be released. The three were part of Egypt’s most powerful news bureau during the brief spell of President Mohammad Morsi, of the Muslim…

  • Obama accepts Modi invite for republic day

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      Signifying a renewal of the India-US strategic partnership, President Barack Obama has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to join India’s Republic Day celebrations as chief guest in January. “This visit will mark the first time a US president will have the honour of attending Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of India’s constitution,”…

  • NHS A&E performance at crisis point

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    An unexpected  crisis is developing in the NHS, with performance in accident and emergency departments deteriorating, bucking the normal trend of waiting times being worse in winter than summer, according to the Labour party. Official statistics released this morning by NHS England on the performance of England’s Accident and Emergency departments last week reveal: 108,301…

  • 0.004% richest control 13% world’s wealth

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      Only 0.004 percent of the world’s high networth adult population controls almost 13 percent of the world’s total wealth, according to a new study. Global ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals’ population has reached a record high of 211,275 with combined net worth of nearly $30 trillion, Wealth-X, the world’s leading ultra high net…