ndian Agra Muslim fear conversions to Hinduism

Ramzan Sheikh, a witness to the ritual, said there was a lot of fear in the area

Nearly a dozen Indian Muslim families have fled their homes in Agra after 57 families were reportedly converted to Hinduism against their will.

Muslim organisations have accused Hindu nationalist groups, close to the governing BJP, of "forced conversions" and demanded action against them.

The Hindu groups have denied the charge and say the conversions were voluntary.

Meanwhile, opposition MPs have accused hardline Hindus of undermining India's unity and secular nature.

The issue has been hotly debated in parliament, with opposition parties demanding an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Critics say Hindu hardline groups are flexing their muscles under the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, led by Mr Modi.

Recently, a row broke out after government minister Niranjan Jyoti used an abusive term to refer to non-Hindus, by asking people at a public rally to choose between Ramzada (children of the Hindu God Ram) and Haramzada (bastards).

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30429118

ustralia PM Abbott wants indigenous referendum in 2017

Indigenous Australians represent about 2.5% of Australia's 24 million people

Australian PM Tony Abbott has vowed to "sweat blood" to secure constitutional recognition for indigenous people, saying he wants a referendum in 2017.

But Mr Abbott said he would not rush with the date until he was confident the referendum would succeed.

To be passed, the change must be backed by a majority of people in a majority of Australia's six states.

The constitution currently does not recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the nation's first people.

Unlike in other nations settled by Europeans, such as Canada and New Zealand, Australia's constitution does not mention indigenous people.

In the past few years, there have been discussions about recognising them in a preamble to the constitution, and about changing the main part of the constitution to include a section that outlaws racial discrimination.

Aboriginal Australians represent about 2.5% of Australia's 24 million people. Generations of discrimination and disadvantage have left them with poor health and low levels of education and employment.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30443319

Golden Globes: Cumberbatch, Redmayne and Jones among Britons recognised

Redmayne (l) and Cumberbatch (r) are recognised for playing Stephen Hawking and Alan Turing

Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones are among a host of British stars in contention for the 2015 Golden Globe awards.

Cumberbatch, Redmayne and fellow Briton David Oyelowo make up three of the nominees for best actor in a drama.

Felicity Jones, Redmayne's co-star in Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything, is up for best actress in a drama, as is Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30430965

Hong Kong protests: Arrests as Admiralty site is cleared

More than 200 activists have been arrested in Hong Kong after police cleared the main pro-democracy protest camp at Admiralty.

The dismantling passed off peacefully, but many activists vowed to continue with other forms of civil disobedience.

Police began their operation early on Thursday in what is widely seen as the final act in the long-running protests.

The demonstrations have dwindled in recent weeks from the tens of thousands who turned out in September.

Activists want Beijing to allow free elections for the territory's next leader in 2017. China says everyone can vote but a pro-Beijing committee will screen candidates.

High profile arrests

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Watch: Key moments as Hong Kong police clear the protest camp

Police officers started to clear the camp and dismantle tents after issuing orders for protesters to vacate the "occupied area" within 30 minutes or face arrest.

Among those arrested were opposition Democratic Party founder Martin Lee, student leader Nathan Law, media tycoon Jimmy Lai and singer Denise Ho.

Police officers carried a number of protesters away from Hong Kong's main pro-democracy site

They gave a 30-minute window for demonstrators to leave or face arrest before moving into Admiralty

There was a tense standoff as police lined up in preparation to dismantle what remains of the camp

As police approached the last remaining protesters, Alex Chow, head of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, rallied the crowds, saying the fight was not over, AP reports.

Meanwhile, a dozen people who opposed the protests turned up to cheer on the police, the South China Morning Post reports.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-30426346

Canada: Reward doubled over potato needle sabotage

...media reports from around the world, found by BBC Monitoring

Police in Canada are trying to solve a case of potato sabotage, as sewing needles keep turning up inside the spuds, it's reported.

A reward for information over the crime has been doubled to 100,000 Canadian dollars (US$87,000; £55,000), according to the The News website. Needles were first found in the potatoes at the start of October, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police says it seems they were shoved into the flesh deliberately. Ten affected potatoes have been found so far, all of which came from the same farm in the eastern province of Prince Edward Island. An initial cash reward of 50,000 Canadian dollars didn't help solve the case, so the region's potato industry and local government have upped the amount, and say even anonymous tips will be eligible for the reward.

"If there is anything good that can be said to come from this mess, it is the sense of solidarity everyone has shown us," Gary Linkletter, who co-owns the farm at the centre of the case, is quoted as saying. "Hopefully the reward will help to identify the culprit and bring this tampering episode to an end." The case triggered a huge recall of about 800,000lb (363,000kg) of potatoes in the region, and prompted an investigation, which used X-Ray machines and metal detectors to try and track down the suspect potatoes, the National Post website reported in October.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-30437290

Those annoying 'praise junkies' at work

Millennials need more praise than their older colleagues. (Thinkstock)

When Austin Grieb was a student, nothing motivated him more than an A-plus on a school paper and a note or cheerful sticker from his teacher telling him he did a “super” job.

Now, as social media community manager at Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank, the 26-year-old still craves such recognition — and he gets it. Thanks to his company’s rewards programme, any employee, not just managers, can heap on the praise.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20141211-the-praise-junkies-at-work

Does Mark Wahlberg want a 'white privilege' pardon?

By Echo ChambersOpinion and analysis from around the world

Last month actor Mark Wahlberg filed a petition asking the US state of Massachusetts for an official pardon for a pair of decades-old criminal convictions. His timing could be worse, but not by much.

According to court records, in 1988 a 16-year-old Mr Wahlberg brutally attacked a Vietnamese man named Thanh Lam with a stick while spewing racial epithets and knocking him unconscious. Seeing police, Mr Wahlberg fled and found Hoa Trinh, another Vietnamese man. He put his hand around Mr Trinh's shoulder and asked the man to help him hide.

After the police cars had passed, Mr Wahlberg punched Mr Trinh in the eye, permanently blinding him. According to the police report, during his arrest the future actor used several anti-Asian slurs. He served 45 days of a three-month sentence, all while maintaining that the crimes were not racially motivated.

Today, however, Mr Wahlberg says he's a changed man - who wants a liquor licence for his restaurant.

more :http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-30425288