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GLOBAL NEWS

HOT
TODAY; JANUARY 21, 2014

I am from Homs, Syria -- a city under siege, where children and babies have been tortured and bombed. It is hell on earth, and it is hard to have hope, but right now I see a chance and I am urgently calling on everyone to help. In 24 hours, for the first time ever, all the major powers behind this war are going to meet. All parties say they want to hear the Syrian people's demands, and they want to show their own public they are doing something. So here is how we get 'a seat at the table' -- we set up a live feed from Syrians to get clear demands presented to negotiators at the talks, and a million of us from across the world back the call for a ceasefire. It has taken a three year bloodbath to get this conference, now we only have hours to be heard. If we come together and build a ceasefire call and then show up boldly on screen and in global numbers at the meeting, we could help bring an end to the carnage. The more of us that join the cry, the more attention we will get, and the more pressure on the parties to respond -- click for a ceasefire in Syria, now: http://www.avaaz.org/en/syria_ray_of_hope_loc/?bLlPxdb&v=34490

DAVOS:
A tiny elite comprising the richest 85 individuals hold wealth
equivalent to that owned by the bottom half of the world's
population, a report says.


The
report by worldwide development organization Oxfam, titled
'Working For the Few', published ahead of the World Economic
Forum meet in Davos, details the impact that widening
inequality is having in both developed and developing nations.

Pakistan's
demand for shahtoosh shawls threatens rare Tibetan antelope

Illegal
trade in Pakistan for fur described
as 'king of wools' is decimating tiny remaining population

In
the musty back room of the Kashmiri handicrafts store in
Islamabad's main Jinnah market, the shopkeeper reaches behind
the counter with the keys to open a concealed black suitcase.
He retrieves half a dozen luxury shawls made from the fur of an
endangered antelope, which are so fine they can be passed
through a ring.

The
shahtoosh shawls – the Persian word means "king of
wools" – are delicate, incredibly soft and unstained.
But the trade in these shawls, which appear to be new, is
illegal.

MUMBAI:
The Indian Psychiatric Society's immediate past president, Dr
Indira Sharma, ruffled countless plumes and feathers on Monday
describing homosexuality
as "unnatural" - a repetition of her statement three days
ago at the society's annual meet where she said homosexuals
uncomfortable with their sexuality should seek psychiatric help.


"The manner in which homosexuals have brought the talk
of sex to the roads makes people uncomfortable. It's unnatural. Our
society doesn't talk about sex. Heterosexuals don't talk about sex.
It's a private matter," the Banaras Hindu University teacher
told TOI on phone.