05/22/2013SRI LANKA National strike, unions: public sector employees threatened with dismissal by Melani Manel Perera The government told its employees not to participate in yesterday's protest against high prices. For the unions, it was a "success" because it showed the central government's weakness.
Colombo (AsiaNews) - The Sri Lankan government threatened to fire civil
servants who participated in yesterday's nationwide strike organised by trade
unions and the opposition to protest against the recent jump in electricity costs,
this according to...
05/21/2013JAPAN - UNITED STATES Inflationary policies threaten to create another economic bubble by Andy Xie Andy Xie argues asset inflation is being pumped up in order to stimulate a stagnating global economy and help the unemployed, when in fact such policies benefit neither
05/21/2013IRAN Guardians Council might exclude Rafsanjani for not meeting necessary criteria The former president has the support of moderates, but he might be too old, has led a lavish lifestyle and could be unable to perform his tasks. Ahmadinejad's ally Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie might also be excluded because he is disliked by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The official list of presidential candidates will be released on Thursday.
05/21/2013CHINA Chinese youth educated in Party schools to violence and disregard for life In one month, dozens of cases of assaults, stabbings and even beheadings for petty reasons. University of Hong Kong Researcher points to school system imprinted on directives of the Communist Party and moral education of young people. Mao’s society has taught young people that human life is worthless.
05/21/2013BANGLADESH Dhaka, 50 injured in clashes between textile workers and police by Sumon Corraya At least 7 thousand workers of 20 companies in the sector took to the streets to demand the minimum wage increase (to 103 dollars a month). The highway linking the capital to Tangail blocked in protest. The intervention of the police to disperse the demonstration. Accusations traded over responsibility for the violence.
05/20/2013CHINA Chinese scholar calls for CP reform, warns the PRC will go the Soviet way
For Zhang Xien, a professor at Shandong University, 20 per cent of the CP's 83 million members are old, sick and "unable to toe the party line". At least 32 million should be encouraged to leave. The scholar addresses the dangerous issue in an article published by a biweekly magazine published by the People's Daily, the party's mouthpiece. He wants better entry requirements to weed out potentially bad officials.
05/20/2013CHINA Poultry sales plunge in China following bird flu outbreak, US$ 65 billion in losses Since March, 130 people have been infected with the H7N9 flu, with 35 deaths, sending shockwaves throughout the poultry industry. Government officials blames poor sanitation in farms. In Shandong, the authorities organise an all-chicken lunch to boost consumer confidence.
05/20/2013BANGLADESH - BRAZIL Brasilia, immigrants from Bangladesh forced to work in slave-like conditions Police in the South American country denounce the presence of a gang specialized in human trafficking. They attract workers with the prospect of a high salary, then force them to work up to the payment of a ransom of 10 thousand dollars. They were found in "inhuman" conditions in a town near the capital.
05/20/2013INDIA - CHINA Chinese Premier in Delhi, to strengthen "trust" and trade It is the first foreign trip of Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who then will go on to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany. He met his Indian counterpart Singh and recalled the "great importance" of bilateral relations., But did not mention the recent tension on the borders, caused by Chinese troops invading Indian territory.
05/19/2013VATICAN Pope to Movements: The action of the Spirit is newness, harmony, mission At Mass for Pentecost, along with movements and lay associations, Francis asks believers not close in on themselves for fear the 'God’s surprises', defending ourselves " barricaded in transient structures which have lost their capacity for openness." The harmony of the Spirit brings unity, not exclusivism or standardization. "The Holy Spirit ... saves us from the threat of a Church which is gnostic and self-referential, closed in on herself" and " drive us to the very outskirts of existence in order to proclaim life in Jesus Christ." The final thanks of the Pope: "You are a gift and a treasure for the Church."
05/19/2013VATICAN Pope to Movements: man is in crisis. No to a church closed in on itself, but a Church that goes out, At the Vigil for Pentecost, Pope Francis pushes Christian witness in a world that has become the enemy of man, where the collapse of financial markets makes the news, but not the death of workers or child hunger. A great event for the Year of Faith, 200 thousand people are present: from CL and Renewal in the Spirit, to the Neocatechumenal Way, Focolare, Sant'Egidio, international associations. The testimony of John Waters, an Irish journalist, and Paul Bhatti, former minister for minorities in Pakistan. The Pope invites all to pray every day for persecuted Christians and to work for religious freedom. The Church is not an efficient NGO. Her main contribution is "to live the Gospel."
05/18/2013CHINA Torrential rains in Guangdong and Fujian, more than 50 dead and thousands displaced The bad weather has hit the city located at the foot of mountains. So far there are 14 missing and over 900 thousand people affected. The most serious damage reported in Guangdong. Landslides have devastated the nine cities, including Guangzhou, the provincial capital.
05/18/2013VIETNAM - AUSTRALIA Vietnamese boat people return, fleeing regime and poverty, 40 years after the war In early 2013, at least 450 people have left the country on makeshift boats headed for Australia. A number greater than the total in the last five years, and a growing phenomenon. But Canberra rarley recognizes them as refugees and Hanoi does not want them.
05/18/2013PALESTINE Kentucky fried chicken, fast food without the 'fast', takes four hours to reach Gaza A distribution company supplying Gaza with meals from the American multinational uses the underground tunnels. A business born by chance that, in spite being triple the original cost, is extremely popular among the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. A customer: "It is also delicious cold."
05/17/2013SYRIA - UNITED STATES - TURKEY Washington: Obama talks to Erdogan, against shipping weapons to the rebels As talks get underway with Moscow, the US president speaks with Turkey’s PM, Syrian rebels’ main ally. The two leaders discuss Syria’s democratic future and Assad’s necessary departure. Ankara voices doubts about a peace conference between rebels and regime backed by Moscow and Washington. After decades, Russian Pacific fleet warships enter the Mediterranean.
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