Asian Lite News Archive

Category: World News

  • Iran n-deal to miss deadline: US

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      US Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken has told lawmakers that it will be “difficult” for Washington and other powers to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran before next Monday, the deadline set for finalising the negotiations. “Right now, I think it’s going to be difficult to get to where we want to go.…

  • 748 mn lack access to clean water: WHO

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     A total of 748 million people lack access to clean water on a regular basis in the world and an estimated 1.8 billion people are exposed to contaminated water, according to a report released Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report indicates that 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation, and one…

  • Jordan urges restraint in Jerusalem

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    Jordan  called for self-restraint in Jerusalem after four Israelis were killed and eight injured in an attack at a synagogue in west Jerusalem , media reported. Jordan’s Minister of State Mohammad Momani said Jordan is following up closely on the serious developments in Jerusalem, reiterating Jordan’s constant position that denounces the targeting of civilians, Xinhua…

  • Surveillance reform fails to advance in US Senate

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    The US Senate has blocked a move to put an end to the mass storage of telephone data by the National Security Agency (NSA), a measure that had the support of the White House and was a direct consequence of leaks by Edward Snowden. The controversial reform, called the USA Freedom Act, fell short by…

  • Gates gives $5.7 mn for Ebola fight

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      The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $5.7 million for the fight against the deadly Ebola virus disease. The foundation has decided to support efforts in Guinea and other Ebola-affected countries to scale up the production and evaluation of convalescent plasma and other convalescent blood products as potential therapies for people infected with…

  • Spain recognise Palestinian state

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    The Spanish Congress voted by 319 votes with just two against and one abstention in favour of a proposal to “urge the government to recognise the state of Palestine as a subject of international law”. The vote Tuesday evening means Spain becomes one of the few European countries to move towards formal recognition of a…

  • Jerusalem synagogue attack kills four

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    Four people were killed and eight injured in an apparent terror attack  morning in a synagogue in the Har Nof neighbourhood of western Jerusalem, media reported. “Two assailants entered the synagogue Tuesday with knives, axes and guns and attacked worshippers,” Haaretz quoted Israel Police spokeswoman Luba Samri as saying. Samri said the attackers were Palestinians…

  • 36 million trapped in slavery

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      India has nearly 14.3 million people, including children, “trapped” in modern-day slavery, ranking fifth in a list of countries brought out by the Global Slavery Index 2014, followed by Pakistan and with Mauritania topping the list. According to the survey by anti-slavery campaign group Walk Free, 1.1409 percent of the people in India are…

  • Putin, the ‘bad guy’ in global diplomacy

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    By Ignacio Ortega  At every summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin plays the role of the “bad guy”, whether he offers a shawl to the Chinese first lady or decides to skip a working breakfast to sleep longer. Although Putin seems comfortable in that role, his advisors spend the day clarifying misunderstandings after each shoot, formal…

  • US aid worker beheaded by ISIS

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     A video has been circulating online purporting to show members of the Islamic State(IS) group beheading several Syrian soldiers and a US aid worker. The footage, released , showed the beheading of a captured American aid worker, Abdul-Rahman Kassig, and at least 12 people who IS said were Syrian pilots and officers in President Bashar…

  • British troops given banned Ebola drug

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    British troops fighting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa are being given an anti-malarial drug banned in the US, putting them at grave risks, a report said . The British ministry of defence has refused to stop using the controversial drug mefloquine, which is known to cause psychotic disorders, including suicidal tendencies among users, The…

  • G20 endorses India’s black money concerns

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    Endorsing India’s concerns about black money and tax avoidance, G20 leaders Sunday promised to modernise international tax rules. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged G20 nations to forge close coordination to battle black money and linked it to security issues such as terrorism. Addressing a G20 session, “Delivering Global Economic Resilience”, Modi also voiced…

  • G20 opens in sweltering Brisbane heat

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    By Paritosh Parasher   A series of localised security shutdowns came into play as G20 Summit opened in Australia’s third most populous city . The host city is also experiencing abnormal heat wave these days. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the representatives of world’s 20 leading economies participating in the Summit. Over 6,000 security…

  • EU plans more Russia sanctions

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    European foreign ministers are considering further sanctions against Russia over the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, European Council (EC) President, Herman Van Rompuy, said. Van Rompuy, who is at Brisbane for the G20 summit, said that European Union (EU) leaders would meet US President Barack Obama during the summit to discuss the Ukraine situation, Xinhua reported. “Russia must…

  • Repatriation of black money priority: Modi

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      Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the repatriation of black money kept abroad was a key priority and called for “close coordination” on the issue during an informal meeting of the five-nation BRICS leaders here ahead of the G20. The prime minister told the leaders of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa that “repatriation…

  • Israel lifts age ban for Muslim pilgrims

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      Israel lifted an age ban prohibiting younger Muslims from accessing the Temple Mount compound and the Al Aqsa mosque. The restrictions, which were applied to men and women under the age 35, were lifted a few hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Amman to hold talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and…

  • The Guardian calls Modi G20’s political rock star

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    From international pariah to the G20’s political rock star — is how The Guardian has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “one of the most popular figures at this G20. A leader others want to see, and be seen with”. “Ostracised after the Godhra riots of 2002, the newly PM of the world’s largest…

  • Obama, Suu Kyi demand reforms in Myanmar

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      US President Barack Obama and Myanmarese opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi  demanded reforms in the Myanmar constitution to allow “free and transparent” elections for a fully representative democracy. Obama called for “inclusive” changes in the constitution before general elections scheduled for 2015. The constitution of Myanmar, once known as Burma,…

  • Cameron calls to eliminate ISIS propaganda from internet

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    British Prime Minister David Cameron  called on governments and internet companies to do more to remove from the web the propaganda of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical organisation. Addressing the Australian parliament, Cameron praised Australia’s tough stance on the issue of foreign fighters joining IS extremists in Iraq and Syria and foreshadowed his own…

  • Philae sends back first photos

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    The Philae landing robot has sent back to Earth the first photos from the surface of comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko, confirming the success of the landing process despite its complexity. The European Space Agency (ESA) released the first photo taken by Philae on the surface of the comet after its landing. The picture shows that the…

  • The Fallacy Of The Gaza Withdrawal

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    Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU, comments on the latest developments at the Holy land The Netanyahu government has forcefully and consistently promulgated the notion that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, its subsequent takeover by Hamas, and the violence emanating from it strongly suggest that…

  • Rosetta comet mission in trouble

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    The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta mission created history  when its robotic probe Philae, landed on a comet, but the mission may already be in trouble, media reported . Ecstasy turned into worry when it emerged that the lander, which was supposed to use harpoons to tether itself to the comet’s surface, was unable to…

  • Iran replicate captured US drone

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      Iran will manufacture four versions of the US RQ-170 drone which was downed inside the country in December 2011, a top military commander said . Iran plans to produce four duplicated versions of RQ-170 by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (which ends March 20, 2015), Commander of the Aerospace Division of…

  • Norway Signs to Global Fund to fight AIDS

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    Norway and the Global Fund  signed a multi-year contribution agreement for NOK1.7 billion for 2014-2016, signaling a strong partnership in global health and in efforts to end AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. The contribution, of US$277 million at the time it was announced during the launch of the Global Fund’s Fourth Replenishment in the…

  • Philae lander makes comet landing

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      European robot probe Philae has made the first, historic landing on a comet, after descending from its mothership, a BBC report said Wednesday. The European Space Agency (ESA) moved closer to putting a robot on the surface of a comet Wednesday, as its Rosetta satellite released the Philae lander towards its destination. The lander,…

  • Obama denies US hand in Hong Kong

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    US President Barack Obama denied that his country has promoted the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, which the official Chinese press has frequently attributed to foreign interference, in particular the US. “On the issue of Hong Kong, which did come up in our conversations, I was unequivocal in saying to President Xi that the US…

  • Mosque burned in West Bank

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    A mosque in the West Bank and an ancient synagogue in Israel were the target of separate attacks early , allegedly by extremists from both sides, amid growing tension in the region. Israeli Police is investigating the attack on the mosque in Kufur Mughayyir, near Ramallah, which Palestinians blame on ultra-nationalist Jewish settlers. “Every time…

  • US, China strike deal on carbon cuts

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    Striking a deal on carbon cuts, the US and China  announced ambitious goals, pledging joint efforts to tackle climate change in 15 years. In a joint announcement issued after US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jingping held talks in Beijing, the two sides announced their respective post-2020 goals of coping with climate change.…

  • Russia to build n-reactors in Iran

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    Iran and Russia signed an agreement  for the construction of two nuclear reactors in the Islamic republic by the Russians, state media here reported. The contract was signed by Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia’s Rosatom corporation, and Ali-Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran in Moscow, Xinhua reported citing the report. The…

  • Obama, Xi discuss new type of bilateral ties

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    Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with US President Barack Obama, underscoring commitment to building a new type of major-country relations between the world’s two largest economies. ‘China would like to work with the United States to implement the principle of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect, cooperation and common prosperity and make new type…

  • PJ: Greek gods, demigods and the quests

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    Vikas Datta in his weekly column  Bookends profiles The Percy Jackson series – Greek gods, demigods and quests in modern America Be it the exploits of Hercules, Perseus or Odysseus or their ilk, the warrior kings of the Indian mytho-religious ethos, the knights of King Arthur, Persian princes, Arabian chieftains (Hatim Tai) and merchants (Sindbad), Russian bogatyrs Dobrynya…

  • AOL volunteers begin relief at Sinjar in Iraq

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    The International Association for Human Values, a sister concern of The Art of Living, steps up relief work in Sinjar in Iraq The International Association for Human Values, a sister concern of The Art of Living along with few NGO’s in Iraq have collected 110 tonnes of food supplies to be delivered to Yazidi refugees…

  • China censures Putin video

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      China has censured a video on the internet showing a chivalrous Russian President Vladimir Putin covering the shoulders of Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan with his coat during the gala dinner at the opening of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC). Chinese media outlets went wild over the incident Monday and the video…

  • Ferry captain jailed for 36 years

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      The South Korean government called off search for nine people missing in the sinking of ferry “Sewol” while a court sentenced the ferry’s captain to 36 years in jail for not carrying out his duty to save his passengers. More than 300 lives were lost in the mishap. The South Korean government called off…

  • Palestinian homes of attackers to be demolished

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     Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  night instructed security officials to demolish the homes of Palestinians who perpetrated deadly attacks on Israelis, his office said in a statement. The order on the use of the controversial punitive measure was made during a security discussion with Israel’s defence leadership that was convened in Jerusalem after two stabbing…

  • Missile programme non-negotiable: Iran

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    Iran’s missile programme is non-negotiable in any talks between the Islamic republic and the world powers, a senior air force official said. “They (Westerners) would have denied Iran such capability if they could,” Brig. Gen. Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ Aerospace Force, said, Xinhua reported citing Tasnim news agency. “But our…

  • RAF drones strike ISIS targets

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    The UK carried out its first drone attack on Islamic State militants in Iraq over the weekend, the Ministry of Defence has said. An RAF Reaper drone was involved in coalition missions near Baiji, the site of Iraq’s largest oil refinery reports BBC. The MoD said the drone “successfully attacked” militants who were laying improvised…

  • Vienna to hold world religious meet

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    World Meet of of Religious Leaders in Vienna to discuss ways to stem violence in the name of religion The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) is organising a world meet on Nov 18 & 19  in Vienna of religious leaders and policy-makers to fuse a united front against violence…

  • Confusion over fate of ISIS leader

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      The fate of Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was unclear  owing to conflicting statements issued by Iraq’s interior ministry and the Pentagon, which could not confirm reports that the Sunni radical group leader was in a convoy hit by coalition forces. Iraq’s interior ministry Sunday said al-Baghdadi was injured in an airstrike…

  • Military build-up in Ukraine concerns US

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    The US is “very concerned” by intensified fighting and rebels’ military build-up in eastern Ukraine, the White House said. “Any attempt by separatist forces to seize additional territory in eastern Ukraine would be a blatant violation of the Minsk agreements,” reported Xinhua citing a statement issued by Bernadette Meehan, spokesperson for White House’s National Security…

  • Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi injured in air strike

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    Iraqi Interior Ministry confirmed that the Islamic State (IS) top leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was injured in a air strike, which killed several senior leaders of the extremist group, state-run Iraqiya news channel reported. Earlier in the day, a security official from Iraq’s northern province of Nineveh, however, told Xinhua that he could not confirm…

  • Congratulations Mr Singh

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    Congress president Sonia Gandhi congratulated former prime minister Manmohan Singh on being awarded one of Japan’s top national awards. The Japanese embassy announced that the former prime minister will be conferred t he Grand Cordon of the Paulownia Flowers – one of Japan’s top national awards – for his “significant contribution” towards boosting bilateral ties.…

  • Gorbachev says world peace under threat

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    As the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall, the man who triggered the crisis in Eastern Europe blamed the world leaders for not not doing enough to create a better and peaceful world. Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader, has warned that the world is edging closer to a new…

  • Fresh clashes erupt in Jerusalem

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    Fresh clashes have erupted between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police in the Arab neighbourhoods of east Jerusalem. At the Shuafat refugee camp , scores of Palestinian youth threw rocks at the police and burnt tires and trash bins, Xinhua reported. Police fought back with tear gas canisters and stun grenades. Earlier, a symbolic funeral procession…

  • Obama wrote to Khamenei

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      US President Barack Obama has written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to express a “shared interest” in fighting the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and Syria, a media report said here Thursday. The letter was sent in the middle of last month, in which the president tied potential cooperation on fighting…

  • Myanmar roundtable discusses political issues

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      Myanmar’s first five-party roundtable summit held in the Presidential Palace here discussed some key political issues in the country, presidential spokesman U Ye Htut said at a press conference after the two-hour talks. Attending the talks were 14 representatives of the government, parliament, political parties, the military and the Union Election Commission, Xinhua reported.…

  • The man who killed Bin Laden

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    This is a man who shot the world’s most wanted terrorist, revealed for the first time. Rob O’Neill, 38, was the US Navy SEAL who killed the man who masterminded and funded the 9/11 terror attacks on New York and Washington reported Huffington Post. “People are asking if we are worried that ISIS will come…

  • US offers Iran framework for n-deal

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    The US has offered Iran a framework for the potential nuclear deal that would allow Tehran to meet its peaceful energy needs, US President Barack Obama said . But whether world powers and Iran are able to reach a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s controversial nuclear program before the Nov 24 deadline is “an open question”,…

  • Obama swept under Republican wave

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    Swept under a Republican wave, US President Barack Obama  faced a tough road ahead in his final two years in office, with the opposition wresting back control of the Senate after eight years. Riding a wave of discontent with Obama and his policies, Republicans netted at least seven Senate contests, more than the six needed…

  • Blame Bibi for the new crisis

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    Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU, comments on the new security situation in the Middle East As Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu aka Bibi has consistently invoked his solemn duty to protect Israel’s national security. Ironically, he has become the single most reckless individual who is…