Obama announces ‘new chapter in American diplomacy
Washington (CNN) — The United States will support efforts for reform across the Middle East and North Africa, including “transitions toward democracy,” President Barack Obama said Thursday. In a speech at the U.S. State Department laying out his policies toward the region, the president said he is marking “a new […]
Starbucks to increase 1,000 cafes in China by 2015
KUNMING – Starbucks will continue its expansion in the Chinese mainland market, planning to have 1,500 cafes in operation by 2015, said an official from the company. Wang Jinlong, chairman of the board of Starbucks Greater China, revealed the plan Wednesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Starbucks cafe in […]
Arabic Graffiti Exhibition in Berlin
Common ground gallery Berlin, Germany The Common Ground Gallery is located in the Hip Hop Stützpunkt along with From Here To Fame Publishing. The gallery hosts a variety of urban culture, graffiti and Hip Hop related exhibitions, workshops and book releases. The opening hours are linked to the event, so […]
‘Somebody’ knew of Osama hideout: Gates
WASHINGTON – ‘SOMEBODY’ knew about Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani hideout but there is no proof that Pakistan’s political and military leaders were aware of it, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Wednesday. Mr Gates and the US military’s top officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, warned against cutting off aid to […]
Family reunited 66 years after WWII separation
BERLIN – A MAN who was separated from his mother at the end of World War II and raised in New Zealand is meeting his German family for the first time after discovering his true identity. The International Tracing Service in the town of Bad Arolsen says it helped 69-year-old […]
Top Chinese, U.S. Military Officers Hold Talks
Top Chinese and U.S. military officers held talks Tuesday in Washington on exchanging views on relations between the two militaries as well as international and regional issues. The talks were led by Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who is visiting as […]
Projects to ease impact of Three Gorges Dam
BEIJING – China said on Wednesday that the Three Gorges Project, the world’s biggest hydropower complex, had affected shipping, irrigation and water supply downstream on the Yangtze River. The disclosure came after the State Council passed plans for future work on the project and for the prevention and treatment of […]
Bribery is part of business say one-third of Dutch employees
Some 31% of Dutch employees think it acceptable to pay customers bribes in order to bring in new contracts, according to an Ernst & Young survey on attitudes to fraud in Europe. Employees in Greece (44%) and Russia (39%) are most likely to pay cash bribes while those in Norway […]
CSIS adds its own mole to terror list
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/993475–walkom-csis-adds-its-own-mole-to-terror-list?bn=1 Talk about nuts. We know that our security services are still passing on to Washington the names of Canadian citizens alleged to be terrorists — with or without proof. But it also seems that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has mistakenly added one of its own moles to the […]
Getting Smart on Aid
New York Times May 18, 2011 Getting Smart on Aid By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF One cost of the uproar over Greg Mortenson, and the allegations that he fictionalized his school-building story in the best-selling book “Three Cups of Tea,” is likely to be cynicism about whether aid makes a difference. […]
Jobless claims fall more than expected
(Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, offering hope the labor market recovery remains on track. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 29,000 to a seasonally adjusted 409,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday, continuing to unwind the […]
Obama plans to forgive roughly $1 billion in debt owed by Egypt
In his first comprehensive response to revolts across the Arab world, President Barack Obama is doling out punishment and praise, targeting Syrian President Bashar Assad for attacking his people but also promising fresh U.S. aid to nations that support democracy. Obama is also trying to erase any doubt that the […]
Islam in Cambodia – Ahmadiyya Muslim Community growing
Islam is the religion of a majority of the Cham (also called Khmer Islam) and Malay minorities in Cambodia. According to Po Dharma, there were 150,000 to 200,000 Muslims in Cambodia as late as 1975. Persecution under the Khmer Rouge eroded their numbers, however, and by the late 1980s they probably had […]
Buddhist who donates to mosques and suraus
KULIM: Mini mar-ket operator Tan Jai Wei (pic), 46, is not your everyday Buddhist. He donates to mosques and suraus and believes this has made his business flourish. Tan, who is married and has two children, said he held a vegetable carnival to collect donations for the construction of a […]
State Department Careful Not to Call Jerusalem Part of Israel
Deputy Secretary Steinberg’s Visit to Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg visits Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank May 18-19, 2011. In Israel, Deputy Secretary Steinberg met with Israeli academic and student leaders. In the West Bank, he met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud […]
After years of planning, PM announces wide land reforms
New reforms include salary adjustment for ILA employees, ease registering, constructing on properties; 4% of ILA holdings privatized. The Israel Land Administration will officially become the Israel Land Authority, as part of extensive reforms announced by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. The passing of the authority to government control […]
Italian island sees thousands migrate from North Africa
A tiny Italian island off the coast of Africa has seen thousands of people fleeing unrest across North Africa. More than 30,000 people this year alone have made the risky journey to Lampedusa, which is only 20 sq km in size. Sonali’s gone there to find out what it’s like […]
From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians
A four hour PBS documentary Written and Produced by Marilyn Mellowes William Cran, Senior Producer and Director Air date: April 6, 1998. The documentary puts the early Christianity in the proper context of Judaism. In other words the Jews are in the middle of the discussion between the Christians and […]
US, Pakistan try to repair ties after bin Laden
ISLAMABAD: Officials say two high-level Obama administration officials have launched a push to try repair relations with Pakistan following the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The visit by Marc Grossman, special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Michael Morell, deputy director of the CIA, comes as a […]