Record turnout of over 70% in Nepal polls
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Nepal has witnessed a record turnout of over 70 per cent on Tuesday in landmark polls to choose an assembly that will draft a new constitution to end years of turmoil and political uncertainty though balloting was hit by sporadic violence, including vandalism and explosions that injured a dozen people.
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“Over 70 per cent of 12.147 million voters turned out during the Constituent Assembly polls. This was historic in the Nepalese context, the percentage was an all-time high,” said Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety.
The turnout was higher than the 61.7 per cent votes cast in the last Constituent Assembly election in 2008 despite a boycott called by an alliance of fringe parties led by the CPN-Maoist.
In the capital, the turnout was 75 per cent.
The successful conduct of the polls will complete the democratisation process in Nepal, Uprety said.
People voted amidst tight security, with 200,000 security personnel, including 60,000 soldiers, deployed across the country.
Voting began at 7 am in almost all the 18,438 polling centres and concluded at 5 pm.
EC spokesman Bir Bahadur Rai said the polls passed off peacefully in most areas barring a few incidents of vandalism, explosions, booth capturing and clashes.
About a dozen people were injured, including three children wounded by a blast near a polling booth in Bhotebahal area of Kathmandu.
Unified CPN-Maoist cadres captured polling booths in Gorkha district and polls were disrupted briefly by clashes in Jumla and Dailekh districts, the EC said.
Home Ministry spokesman Shankar Koirala 37 people were arrested for trying to foil the balloting.
“The members of the dissenting bloc tried to obstruct the elections at many places but all in vain,” he told the media.
The polls will lead to the formation of a 601-member assembly to draft a new Constitution, including 240 elected under a direct voting system.
There was proportionate voting for 335 seats and the remaining 26 members will be nominated by the government.
Counting of votes will begin on Wednesday morning after ballot boxes are brought to district headquarters.
Results under the direct voting system are expected in a week and those under the proportionate voting after a fortnight, officials said.
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Updated on : 19-11-2013 09:59 PMEdit : Edit
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UN to Myanmar: Make Rohingya Muslims citizens
20112013
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The General Assembly’s human rights committee passed a resolution on Tuesday urging Myanmar to give the stateless Rohingya minority equal access to citizenship and to crack down on Buddhist violence against them and other Muslims in the Southeast Asian nation.
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The resolution passed the committee by consensus, meaning under General Assembly rules the body will unanimously pass it later this year.
Myanmar emerged from a half-century of military rule in 2011, but its transition to democracy has been marred by sectarian violence that has left more than 240 people dead and sent another 240,000 fleeing their homes, most of them Rohingya.
Some say the inter-communal violence presents a threat to Myanmar’s political reforms because it could encourage security forces to re-assert control.
In 1982, Myanmar passed a citizenship law recognizing eight races and 130 minority groups but omitted the nation’s 800,000 Rohingya, among Myanmar’s 60 million people.
Many Myanmar Buddhists view the Rohingya as interlopers brought in by British colonialists from modern-day Bangladesh, but many Rohingya say they have lived in the country once known as Burma for hundreds of years.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, seen as likely to be elected as the next president of Myanmar, has had little else to say about Rohingya rights.
She declined to meet with an Organization of the Islamic Conference delegation visiting Myanmar this week to look into the plight of the Rohingya. Myanmar had been ostracized by most of the world for 50 years after a coup that instituted military rule.
But in recent years the nation has been cautiously welcomed into the international community after it freed many political prisoners and ended the house arrest of Syu Kyi and instituted reforms.
President Barack Obama visited the country last year on an Asian tour, as a hallmark of Myanmar’s rehabilitation. The General Assembly resolution welcomed a statement by Myanmar’s president that “no prisoners of conscience will remain in prison by the end of the year.” Myanmar released 69 political prisoners last week.
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Updated on : 20-11-2013 12:36 AMEdit : Edit
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Illegal flats to be vacated in Campa Cola society by 31st May: SC
20112013
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The Supreme Court has asked the unauthorised flats owners at the Campa Cola Society in Mumbai to vacate the premises by 31st May 2014 as no specific proposal could be worked out to provide them space in the compound for new construction.
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The apex court on Tuesday passed the order as Attorney General G E Vahanvati said, “after considering all aspects we are not in a position to work out any specific proposal”.
A Bench headed by justice G S Singhvi, which on 13th November had stayed the demolition of the unauthorised flats by taking cognizance of media reports, said it had taken the humanitarian ground into consideration to extend the date of demolition from 11th November 2013 to 31st May 2014 as the Attorney General had sought time to come out with a specific proposal for permanent solution.
“Having considered the matter in entirety, we deem it fit to extend the period till May 31 by which the occupants must vacate. This is subject to the undertaking to be given by occupants within six weeks,” the bench said on Tuesday.
It said “if no undertaking is given, the municipal corporation will be entitled to take action in accordance with the order of February 27″.
The court on 27th February had ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to demolish the illegally constructed flats and on 1st October refused to re-consider its earlier order and had set 11th November deadline to vacate 102 flats which were declared as illegal.
However, on 13th November, hours after over 100 agitated families clashed with the police while the civic squad was bulldozing its way into the premises, the apex court had stayed the demolition till further order, saying it was “badly disturbed by the development that is taking place at Campa Cola premises in Mumbai.”
In a ray of hope for the occupants of the unauthorised flats, the bench had taken note of the submission of the Attorney General that there was a need for permanent solution and he will come out with some specific proposal.
Vahanvati had said unauthorised construction has to go but the flat owners should be given opportunity to build up building available in the campus without affecting the apex court order.
He had said since there is space in the compound, the residents should be allowed to get approval of the building plan as originally it was planned to have nine towers and the builders came out with seven by accommodating all buyers in them.
Seven high-rise buildings of Campa Cola Housing society were constructed between 1981 and 1989.
The builders had permission for only six floors. One of the compound buildings, Midtown, has 20 floors and another building, Orchid, has got 17 floors.
Meanwhile, the residents of the illegally- constructed floors in the Campa Cola residential compound have begun to examine their options after the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that they would be evicted by the end of May next year.
“The occupants are waiting to see the copy of the order passed by the apex court. We are not giving up hopes. There has to be some way out. Let our legal team come back and we will sit together to decide our future course of action,” a resident of the compound Nandini Mehta said.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Sitaram Kunte said the civic administration would follow the Supreme Court order.
“We have learnt about the order. We will abide by it,” he said. The court has asked residents to submit an undertaking within six weeks of the decision saying that they would vacate their flats.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Housing Sachin Ahir asked Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to clarify his stand on the Campa Cola compound issue.
“The state government should have taken a decision earlier. It is not good to make occupants suffer. I will meet the chief minister after tomorrow’s cabinet meeting,” Ahir told reporters.
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Updated on : 20-11-2013 10:31 AMEdit : Edit
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“Rule by Law and Public Participation in China?”
20112013
Dear Friends:
CPR is delighted to invite you a talk by Stephanie Balme, head of the Science Po research group Justice, Law and Society in China and visiting Professor at the Tsinghua University School of Law, Beijing on the theme: “Rule by Law and Public Participation in China?” on Wednesday, 20 November 2013 at 3:00 pm in the Conference Hall.
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Brief Bio:
Stephanie Balme is the head of the Science Po research group Justice, Law and Society in China and visiting Professor at the Tsinghua University School of Law, Beijing. She also teaches at the China-EU School of Law based in Beijing. She is China Delegate for the Civil Law Initiative and vice-president of the French-Chinese Legal Study and Research Association. Stephanie is the co-author of Building Constitutionalism in China, Palgrave, 2009.
A line of confirmation will be highly appreciated.
With regards,
Pratap Bhanu Mehta
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20112013
Dear friends,
The worst storm on record has devastated the people of the Philippines, and scientists say climate change fueled it.Leaders are meeting right now to decide whether to pay billions promised to help vulnerable countries protect against these climate disasters. Money that could go directly to giving the Philippines a better chance of surviving these deadly storms.The Filipino negotiator just started fasting for action and has started a petition on Avaaz — let’s stand with him:
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The horror of what’s happened in the Philippines is unimaginable. Ten thousand people wiped away by a 25ft wall of water driven by 300km/h winds. A city of 200,000 people looks like a nuclear bomb hit it. It’s the worst storm on record, but it’s just the beginning, unless we act.
Right now the world’s powers are in a global climate conference talking about whether to hand over billions promised to protect the most vulnerable amongst us when climate change disasters hit. Yeb Sano, the Philippines’ chief negotiator, addressed the room, tearfully pledging to start fasting until a real deal is reached to help his family, fellow citizens and all the other most vulnerable nations who are at the most risk for violent storms like this one.
Yeb is standing alone, facing a room of bureaucrats who are doing almost nothing to help. But if we bring the power of our 29 million strong community in to stand with him, we could change the tide and push the richest polluters to pay up now. Click below to make it happen:
Yeb Sano, the climate negotiator for the Philippines, spent hours trying to reach his brother after the storm. He finally found him, part of a crew moving the bodies of victims so relief workers could begin cleanup. After hearing the news he gave an amazingly brave speech to the world’s climate delegates, saying:
“I speak for my delegation. But more than that, I speak for the countless people who will no longer be able to speak for themselves after perishing from the storm. I also speak for those who have been orphaned by this tragedy. I also speak for the people now racing against time to save survivors and alleviate the suffering of the people affected by the disaster. We can take drastic action now to ensure that we prevent a future where super typhoons are a way of life… What my country is going through as a result of this extreme climate event is madness. The climate crisis is madness. We can stop this madness. Right here in Warsaw.”
We owe it to the victims of Haiyan, and all future storms like it, to think bigger picture than our leaders are. Climate change killed them. And climate change is what we need to stop. A greater commitment to fund climate change management efforts is a key piece in the global deal we desperately need to save the world. And the richest countries have already pledged millions for this effort! So far, almost none of the money promised has arrived, but this can and must change. And the tragedy of the Philippines right in the middle of the climate conference is our chance to make it happen.
Click below to stand with Yeb and his country and with all those who have been and could be victims of climate change disasters:
Yeb ended his speech by writing a pledge to everyone: “In solidarity with my countrymen who are struggling to find food back home and with my brother who has not had food for the last three days, in all due respect Mr. President, and I mean no disrespect for your kind hospitality, I will now commence a voluntary fasting for the climate. This means I will voluntarily refrain from eating food during this COP until a meaningful outcome is in sight.” Together, our movement can rise to this challenge, and bring hope to him and his family and generations of our most vulnerable world citizens.
With hope and determination,
Ricken and the whole Avaaz team
PS – This campaign was started by Yeb Sano, chief climate negotiator for the Philippines. Start yours now and win on any issue – local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?
More information:
In hard-hit Tacloban, children ripped from arms (CNN)
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/09/world/asia/philippines-tacloban/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/09/world/asia/philippines-tacloban/index.html
Typhoon Haiyan: what really alarms Filipinos is the rich world ignoring climate change (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/typhoon-haiyan-rich-ignore-climate-change
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/typhoon-haiyan-rich-ignore-climate-change
Typhoon Haiyan influenced by climate change, scientists say (Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/typhoon-haiyan-influenced-by-climate-change-scientists-say-20131111-2xb35.html
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/typhoon-haiyan-influenced-by-climate-change-scientists-say-20131111-2xb35.html
Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines destruction ‘absolute bedlam’ (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24894529
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24894529
Deadly Typhoon Haiyan Devastates the Philippines, Heads for Vietnam (TIME)
http://world.time.com/2013/11/10/deadly-typhoon-haiyan-devastates-the-philippines-heads-for-vietnam/
http://world.time.com/2013/11/10/deadly-typhoon-haiyan-devastates-the-philippines-heads-for-vietnam/
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20112013
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20112013
Hello, all –
A group of extreme Republicans in Congress have opposed the President’s legislative agenda at every turn. That’s no secret.
But the 113th Congress’ obstruction is reaching new levels.
Right now, our lawmakers are in a position to take action on multiple national measures that would help our economy and millions of Americans. That’s not an exaggeration: They could vote tomorrow. And they should.
Consider this for a second. If our current Congress simply scheduled a vote on pressing national issues, we could:
Fix our broken immigration system. This past June, the Senate passed a bill to ensure everyone plays by the same rules and we grow our economy. Multiple reports confirm that there are enough votes in the House to get it done. And still: No vote.
End workplace discrimination for millions of LGBT Americans once and for all. This isn’t difficult: Nobody should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would make it illegal to fire someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and it passed the Senate earlier this year. Once again, no vote in the House.
Confirm a leader of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The housing market is coming back, but we can do more to help responsible homeowners. Congressman Mel Watt, the President’s nominee, was endorsed by Senators on both sides of the aisle. And yet, at a critical time for the housing industry, when we’re working to implement the rules that will prevent another “too big to fail,” Senate Republicans used the filibuster to block his nomination.
Confirm three well-qualified judges to fill long-standing vacancies on the federal D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Cornelia Pillard, Robert Wilkins and Patricia Millett were all selected by the President as nominees for this critical court. Once again, one by one, Senate Republicans blocked each nomination.
And that’s just to name a few.
In the 1940s, President Harry Truman notoriously dubbed the 80th Congress the “Do-Nothing Congress.” And yet, even they managed to enact 906 laws, including the Marshall Plan, and the piece of legislation that created the Department of Defense and the National Security Council. It’s time for the current Congress to match up a little more favorably.
Remember: They can still allow these incredibly important measures to come to a vote.
It’s time for this obstruction to come to an end, and for Republicans in Congress to start doing their jobs:
David
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20112013
Foundation for Media Professionals ( FMP) invites you to
A discussion on
Should Opinion Polls be Banned ?
21 November 2013, Thursday
Press Club of India,
1 Raisina Road, New Delhi
10.30 am onwards
Speakers
S.Y. Quraishi
Ajit Shukla
TCA Srinivasa Raghavan
Prof Yogendra Yadav
Followed by a conversation
Polls Ahead : Editors Beware !
with
Siddharth Varadarajan and Hartosh Singh Bal
Dr.S.Y Quraishi is former Chief Election Commissioner of India. He is an IAS officer of the 1971 batch and a Ph.D in Communication and Social Marketing. During his 35 long years of career in administration and management of elections in a number of states Dr. Quraishi has brought a special focus on people’s participation, voters’ education and youth involvement in the electoral process through scientific research and interventions. He has been an ardent proponent for lending strength to the grassroots level election functionaries.
Ajit Shukla is with the Center for Voting Opinion & Trends in Election research (CVOTER) a research agency conducting extensive Stakeholder research, Public perception polls, political analysis and socio‐economic research. In last sixteen years CVoter News Services covered news analysis across spectrum including 15 Union Budgets more than 100 State Elections and more than 30 international events.
T C A Srinivasa Raghavan is a senior journalist and currently Consulting Editor with Business Standard. He was earlier with the Hindu Business Line, Financial Express, Indian Express and Economic Times. Raghavan has also been a consultant to the Reserve Bank of India’s history project, advisor to the Director of ICRIER, editor of Margin at NCAER and a senior fellow of the Asian Institute of Transport. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.
Prof Yogendra Yadav is Faculty member at the Center for Studies of Developing Societies ( CSDS). He is well known Political Analyst.
Siddarth Varadarajan is former Editor with The Hindu
Hartosh Singh Bal is Former Political Editor with Open Magazine
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20112013
International Journal of Educational Policy Research and Review
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Dear Colleague,
International Journal of Educational Policy Research and Review (IJEPRR) publishes high-quality articles in all the areas of Educational Policy and Management. IJEPRR is currently accepting manuscripts for publication. Our peer-review is very fast, highly rigorous and it takes just a few days (Ten) and authors are carried along adequately in all the publication processes. Submission must be well researched, informed and demonstrate familiarity with the relevant literature, concept and theoretical perspective in the area of the study. Papers are solicited from, but not limited to the following topics:
- Adult Education
- Agricultural Education
- Art Education
- Business Education
- Community Education
- Computer Education
- Cross-disciplinary areas of Education
- Curriculum, Research and Development
- Distance Education
- Economics of Education
- Education and Child Labour
- Education Policy and Leadership
- Educational Administration
- Educational Foundations
- Educational Measurement and Evaluation
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Technology
- E-Learning
- Elementary Education
- Environmental Education
- Geography Education
- Guidance and Counseling
- Health Education
- Higher Education
- Home Economics Education
- Human Kinetics
- Human Resource Development
- Human Rights Education
- Indigenous Education
- Innovations and Change
- International Education
- Islamic Education
- Language Education
- Mathematics Education
- Music Education
- Non-Formal Education
- Population Education
- Pre-Primary Education
- Reading Education
- Religion Studies
- Science Education
- Secondary Education
- Social Studies Education
- Special Education
- Student Affairs
- Teacher Education
- Technical Education
- Visualization skills
- Vocational Education
- Women Education/Gender
Our main objective is to inform authors of the decision on their manuscript within TEN days of submission. Following acceptance, a paper will normally be published in the issue of that month.
Open Access
One paramount request of researchers across the world is open access to research publications. IJEPRR is fully committed to providing free access to all articles as soon as they are published.
Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. (N.B. Conference papers may only be submitted if the paper has been completely rewritten and if appropriate written permissions have been obtained from any copyright holders of the original paper).
Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Guide for authors and other details that are available on our websitehttp://www.journalissues.org/journal_items.php?p=guide&&id=7.
Prospective author(s) should submit their complete manuscript online via http://www.journalissues.org/journal_items.php?p=submit_man&&id=7.
For further assistance you can contact the editorial office via ijeprr@journalissues.org.
Best regards,
Prof. Naseer Ahmad Al-Khawaldeh
Editor
Editor
International Journal of Educational Policy Research and Review
E-mail: ijeprr@journalissues.org
http://www.journalissues.org/journals-home.php?id=7
E-mail: ijeprr@journalissues.org
http://www.journalissues.org/journals-home.php?id=7
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20112013
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International news
19112013Annual losses from natural disasters have quadrupled since 1980s – World Bank
Annual economic costs of natural disasters worldwide have nearly quadrupled over the past three decades, according to a World Bank report that calls for “disaster resilience” planning in economic development going forward. Average losses went from about $US50 billion per year in the 1980s to nearly $US200 billion a year in the last decade, totaling $US3.8 trillion from 1980 to 2012, the report states. Three-quarters of the total was due to extreme weather. Recent damage in the Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan “brought into sharp focus how climate change is intensifying the severity of extreme weather events, which hurts the poor the most,” World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said in a statement. “The world can no longer afford to put off action to slow greenhouse emissions, and help countries prepare for a world of greater climate and disaster risks.”
UN human rights office criticizes Libyan paramilitaries
Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN high commissioner for human rights, has censured Libyan militias for firing on peaceful demonstrators last week, setting off clashes in which more than 40 people died.“We call upon the Libyan authorities to launch a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the violent incidents and to ensure that those found responsible for unlawful killings and other human rights abuses are brought to justice,” said Shamdasani. Last Friday, protesters demanded that the powerful Misrata militia, filled with former anti-Gaddafi rebels, leave capital Tripoli. Subsequently, the regular army ordered paramilitaries to abandon the city, and Shamdasani has urged both sides to avoid “escalation”.
Obama asks senators to delay Iran sanctions ahead of talks
Barack Obama has asked the US Senate to delay imposing additional sanctions on Iran for an unspecified period of time, as it negotiates the fate of its uranium enrichment program. Iran and the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany will resume negotiations later this week. Some US lawmakers want to table several potential measures against the Islamic Republic for purportedly developing a nuclear weapon, but White House spokesman Jay Carney, said that in his statements Obama insisted that that the sanctions would be more effective as a tool to pressure Iran if it fails to reach an agreement or breaks its terms.
One dead, 50 feared missing in South Africa mall roof collapse
One person has been killed and fifty are feared ‘trapped’ in a South African mall accident after the roof collapsed at the building in the city of Durban on Tuesday. “As many as 50 people entrapped at Tongaat mall,”private emergency medical care firm ER24 told AFP, citing their crews on the scene. A further 26 have been taken to hospital suffering “massive traumatic injuries,” according to Chris Botha, a spokesman for the Netcare 911 emergency service who spoke to Reuters.
UK summons Spanish ambassador over Gibraltar ‘ongoing incursion’
Britain has summoned Spain’s ambassador in London, Federico Trillo, over concerns about a possible incursion of a Spanish ship into British waters off the coast of Gibraltar. Issuing the summons, the UK Foreign Office said that a Spanish research vessel, the RV Ramon Margalef, “undertook significant surveying activity in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on 18 and 19 November for over 20 hours.” “I strongly condemn this provocative incursion and urge the Spanish government to ensure that it is not repeated,” said UK Minister for Europe David Lidington. According to international law, the waters around the rock of Gibraltar are considered to be British territory.
Drone strike kills 3 suspected Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen
Three suspected Al-Qaeda militants were killed in a drone strike in eastern Yemen on Tuesday, Reuters said, citing residents and a local official. The militants were hit by a drone when they were traveling in a car in the Ghail Bawazeer area of Hadramout province, 45km from the provincial capital, Mukalla. Earlier this month, two air strikes killed five suspected Al-Qaeda fighters in the southern province of Abyan.
Shiite professor, driver shot dead in Pakistan attack
A Shiite university professor and his driver were shot dead in Pakistan on Tuesday amid a continuing wave of sectarian violence, Reuters said. Syed Shabbir Hussain Shah, the director of student services at the University of Gujrat, was on his way to work when gunmen on a motorcycle fired on his car and sped off. Pakistan’s Shia community is one-fifth of Pakistan’s population. A note found at the scene read that it was “retaliation for Rawalpindi,” a reference to the clashes over the weekend in which eight people were killed. It was signed “Lashkar-e-Jhangvi,” a name for a banned group linked to Sunni extremists.
Iran, Lebanon football teams to play match without spectators after Beirut blasts
Without spectators, the national football teams of Iran and Lebanon will play in a game which is scheduled for Tuesday in Beirut, after bomb blasts in the Lebanese capital, ISNA reported. The decision followed a meeting of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) with Lebanese security officials, as well as representatives of Iran and Lebanon football federations. After two bomb explosions in the morning in Beirut, 23 people were reported dead and 169 injured.
German parties at coalition talks say EU may not be able to accept Turkey
The EU may not be able to accept Turkey as a member, German parties negotiating a coalition government have said. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) describe EU membership talks with Turkey as “open-ended,” Reuters reported. A coalition panel led by Merkel is expected to approve the paper on foreign policy later on Tuesday. However, the document said “Turkey should be bound closer to European structures, allowing it to further develop the privileged relationship it enjoys with the EU and Germany.”
3 officers killed in attack on police unit in Makhachkala, Dagestan
Three officers have been killed in an attack on a police unit in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan. Unidentified assailants attacked the police unit and detonated an explosive device, killing two officers and injuring another, who later died, law enforcement sources said. The incident took place on Khizroyev Street at 3:10pm local time. The same attackers then injured two more police officers on Kazbekov Street.
Russian investigators continuing search for Boeing’s voice recorder in Kazan
The Russian Investigative Committee has confirmed that one flight recorder has been discovered at the scene of Sunday’s Boeing crash in Kazan. Only a protective box remains of the second flight recorder, though the search for its contents is not over yet, committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Interfax on Tuesday. Earlier reports said the parameter recorder had been found and is now being read. Forty-four passengers and six crew members were killed when a Boeing 737 airliner of Tatarstan Airlines crashed in Kazan on November 17.
Ukraine parliament to decide on Tymoshenko, EU integration on Nov. 21
Ukraine’s parliament has put off until Thursday a debate on plans to sign an association and trade agreement with the EU, a measure that could mean that the country releases jailed former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, Reuters reported. The Euro-integration laws are intended to meet EU conditions which call for an end to the practice of “selective justice” in Ukraine. The reforms of the judiciary and the electoral system could lead to the release of Tymoshenko, who is serving a jail sentence of seven years on abuse of office charges.
Italy declares state of emergency in Sardinia after cyclone strikes island
Italian authorities declared a state of emergency in Sardinia on Tuesday, a day after a cyclone struck the Mediterranean island, killing at least 16 people and leaving hundreds homeless, Reuters reported. Overnight, Cyclone Cleopatra dropped 450 millimeters of rain in an hour and a half, causing rivers to burst their banks and flooding homes across the island. Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, who called a meeting of his Cabinet to discuss the crisis, described the disaster as a “national tragedy.” The declaration of a state of emergency allows extra resources to be freed up more quickly to reach devastated areas.
Russian court frees Brazilian Greenpeace activist on bail
A St. Petersburg court on Tuesday released Brazilian Greenpeace activist Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel on 2 million rubles ($61,300) bail, according to the Arctic Sunrise vessel team’s Twitter account. On Monday, Russian photographer Denis Sinyakov, Russian citizen Yekaterina Zaspa, who was a doctor on board the vessel, and a member of the Greenpeace press service, Andrey Allakhverdov, were also released on bail by a city’s district court. They all will remain in custody, until the bail is paid in the next one or two days. The activists were detained during a protest outside the Russian oil development platform Prirazlomnaya.
S-300 exports issue has no negative effect on Moscow-Tehran ties
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Tuesday said that Russia’s postponement of deliveries of S-300 surface-to-air missile systems has not had any negative impact on relations between Moscow and Tehran. “Iran and Russia cooperate at the highest level. The continuous dialogue between our presidents confirms my words,” he said in Moscow. “This delay and postponement of deliveries of systems such as S-300 complexes is unable to negatively influence cooperation between our states,” Interfax quoted him as saying. He also said that cooperation between Tehran and Saudi Arabia could play a key role in stabilizing the situation in the region.
Police hunting gunman after Paris shootings
French police backed up by a helicopter and gendarmes are continuing a search for a gunman who opened fire inside the offices of the left-wing newspaper Liberation on Monday, leaving a staff member seriously injured. He was last seen on the Champs-Elysees, and also fired at the headquarters of France’s second-largest bank, Societe Generale. Witnesses describe the man as “serene and determined,” the Guardian wrote. Detectives are combing the whole of west Paris for a “large built man with a shaved head in his 40s,” who crisscrossed the city using public transport and hijacking a private car. Police say he appeared to have been behind three previous attacks including one at a television news channel BFMTV.
Vandals damage memorial to protesters in Cairo
The foundation for the future memorial to Egyptian protesters killed in the country’s uprising and the time of turmoil has been damaged in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Unknown assailants attacked, chipped away and sprayed graffiti on the stone early on Tuesday, hours after it was inaugurated by the country’s interim prime minister, AP said. Monday’s inauguration came on the eve of the second anniversary of some of the fiercest confrontations between protesters and security forces on a street near Tahrir, in which at least 45 people were killed by police.
9,000 peacekeepers needed for Central Africa – UN chief
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said that anarchy in Central African Republic risks spiraling further out of control and cited increasing retaliatory attacks between Muslim and Christian groups. In a report, obtained by AFP ahead of a Security Council meeting on the crisis next Monday, Ban suggested five ways in which the international community can act. Four involve providing various forms of financing and logistical support for an African force already in the country. The fifth option is a UN peacekeeping force of between 6,000 and 9,000 troops, plus 1,700 police.
Argentina president back at work, appoints new economy minister
Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner was back at work Monday after six weeks of medical leave following surgery for a blood clot on her brain, AFP reported. She held meetings with Vice-President Amado Boudou, who stood in for her leading the administration. Kirchner named her economic policy chief, Axel Kicillof, as the new economy minister and picked Chaco provincial governor Jorge Capitanich as her new cabinet chief. Hernan Lorenzino, who had been economy minister, was picked to lead the new debt-restructuring unit. He will also be nominated as ambassador to the EU, the government said.
Dept. of Justice declassifies hundreds of pages of documents on NSA surveillance program
The US Department of Justice on Monday evening released hundreds of pages of previously classified information relating to the NSA’s surveillance of millions of Americans. The disclosures, which were in response to a Freedom of Information Act filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation over two years ago, cover interaction between the intelligence agency and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court regarding implementation of Section 215 of the Patriot Act – a provision which the NSA uses to collect the call records, and which critics say has overstepped the bounds of national security interests and infringed on Americans’ privacy. The new pages, provided via the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, include documents submitted to the FISA court and the US Congress, as well as reports and training slides.
Google to pay $17 million for spying on Safari users
Google will pay $17 million to 37 states and the District of Columbia for spying on millions of people using Safari to browse the Web in 2011 and 2012. Monday’s settlement announcement stems from a loophole that allowed Google’s DoubleClick advertising service to follow online activity of unwitting Safari users. Safari’s maker Apple prohibited any tracking without permission of the user. Google secretly shadowed Safari user from June 2011 to February 2012. The Federal Trade Commission previously fined Google for the abuse, demanding the Internet giant pay $22.5 million last year, the largest FTC penalty ever for such a civil violation. Google says the intrusion was a mistake and inadvertently happened in an attempt to make recommending ads easier for users. The surveillance within “cookies” was disabled by Google in February 2012 upon first report of the violation of Safari privacy policy.
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Categories : Media, Politics, Uncategorized, world News
AirAsia X Records 23.6% Growth in Third Quarter 2013
19112013
AirAsia X Records 23.6% Growth in Third Quarter 2013
Focus Remains in Key Markets in the Asia Pacific Region
SEPANG, 19 November 2013 - AirAsia X Berhad, the long-haul, low cost carrier affiliate of the AirAsia Group today reported its financial results for the Third Quarter, 2013 (3Q2013), ended 30 September 2013.
The Company has posted strong quarterly revenue of RM601.5 million as at 30 September 2013, up +23.6% year-on-year (“y-o-y”) from RM486.6 revenue reported as at 30 September 2012. Some of the contributors were (1) passengers carried grew +32.4% y-o-y to 0.8 million, (2) an improvement of ancillary income per passenger of +3.7% y-o-y to RM144 and (3) an increase in fleet size from 9 to 14 as at 30 September 2013. As a result of the additional aircraft capacity, Available Seat-KMs (“ASKs”) was up by +31.9%; from 3,895 million in the third quarter 2012 to 5,137 million in the third quarter 2013 and was deployed to increasing frequencies to Chengdu, Taipei, Sydney and Melbourne routes, and the launch of Busan, Korea; Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Male, Maldives. Revenue Passenger-KMs (“RPKs”) was up by +30.3% from 3,243 million to 4,227 million during the same period of review. Load factor was 82.3% in third quarter 2013.
Following the realignment of its network with a focus on its core markets in January 2012, AirAsia X recorded RM104.9 million in its Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortisation and Rental (“EBITDAR”) for the third quarter ended 30 September 2013, an +33.2% y-o-y improvement, while Earnings Before Interest and Tax (“EBIT”) grew by +83.4% y-o-y to RM25.0 million. These operating profit figures include RM12.1 million for non-recurring IPO-related expenses in the third quarter. The Company achieved a Profit After Tax (“PAT”) of RM26.4 million for the third quarter ended 30 September 2013 as compared to RM48.9 million for the same quarter in 2012. During the 9 months period ended September 2013, the company’s PAT was RM44.3million, an improvement of RM24.5 million as compared to RM19.8 million achieved during the same period of review.
Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said, “we are currently resolutely focused on executing our growth strategy to build a pre-eminent global leadership position in the long-haul LCC segment, with the largest fleet and network, including new international hubs that are being established. In this third quarter, we launched new routes to Busan, Korea; Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Male, Maldives.”
“With our first international hub set up in Thailand expected to commence operations in 2014, the new opening of KLIA2 next year and the recent 2014 Government Budget Initiatives promoting the Malaysian tourism sector; AirAsia X expects a continued strong growth momentum as we head into the new year.” Azran concluded.
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Categories : Business, CSR, Uncategorized
Day 7: Coca-Cola Cricket Cup U-16
19112013
Day 7: Coca-Cola Cricket Cup U-16 Inter-School Tournament, Delhi-leg
Dhruv’s 59 Brings Victory for Titiksha Public School; Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School Thrash Ryan International School
New Delhi, 19th November 2013: Dhruv’s brilliant half-century helped Titiksha Public School, Rohini outplay Prabhu Dayal Public School, Shalimar Bagh by three wickets in a Group E league match of the Coca-Cola Cricket Cup U-16 inter-school tournament, played at Parmarth Cricket Ground today.
Prabhu Dayal Public School won the toss and opted to bat first. With the help of Aditya Walia (45) and Yash Shadija’s (44) useful knocks, Prabhu Dayal Public School scored 183 runs for eight wicket in 40 overs. Mudit claimed two wickets and helped his team to restrict the opponents at a small total.
Batting second, Titiksha Public School achieved the target in 39.4 overs after losing seven wickets in the close match. Dhruv led the batting line-up with his spectacular knock of 59 runs. He along with all-rounder Mudit (29) won the match and took their team to next round of the Coca-Cola Cricket Cup – Delhi Leg.
All-rounder Yash’s two-wicket haul gave some jolts to the oppositions but failed to hold them. Dhruv was adjudged Man-of-the Match for his match-winning half-century.
Brief Scores
PDPS: 183 for 8 wkts in 40 overs (Aditya Walia 45, Yash Shadija 44; Mudit 2/20).
TPS: 185 for 7 wkts in 39.4 overs (Dhruv 59, Mudi 29; Yash Shadija 2/22).
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Match 2: In a Group H league match, Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School, Ajmere Gate defeated Ryan International School, Vasant Kunj by 94 runs, played at Bharat Nagar ground today.
Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School won the toss and chose to bat first. However, they failed to materialise the opportunity and the whole team was bowled-out at 155. Shivam and Kunal scored 43 and 20 runs respectively. Harsh and Sahil’s two-wicket hauls restrict the opponents in 38.1 overs.
In reply, Ryan International School were bowled out at a meagre score of 61. Imran’s lethal four-wicket haul rattled the oppositions’ batting line-up and bundled-out them in 19.4 overs.
Imran was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his bowling performance.
Brief Scores
AASSS: 155 all out in 38.1 overs (Shivam 43, Kunal 20; Harsh 2/18, Sahil 2/18).
RIS-VK: 61 all out in 19.4 overs (Vidur 12; Imran 4/16).
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Categories : sports, Uncategorized
Quake of M6.3 – HALMAHERA, INDONESIA
19112013| Magnitude | 6.3 |
| Date-Time |
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| Location | 2.647N 128.402E |
| Depth | 63 km |
| Distances |
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