News: On 5th June 2014, Finance Minister of Bangladesh proposed a Taka 250506 crore (Taka 2.5 Trillion) budget for 2014-15 fiscal year. The proposed budget sets an unrealistic economic growth target, which came with huge funding for a host of development projects to directly contribute to the macro-economic growth. Comment: As usual, the political parties, economists and civil society of the country turned a blind eye to the key issue…

Headlines • Iran, World Powers Resume Push for Nuclear Deal by July 20• FO condemns NSA Surveillance, calls it Violation of International Laws• China Bans Xinjiang Officials from Observing Ramadan Fast Details Iran, World Powers Resume Push for Nuclear Deal by July 20 Iran and six world powers resumed talks on Thursday aimed at clinching a long-term deal later this month on the scope of Tehran's contested nuclear programme, seeking…

News: For the past few weeks, the Malaysian media was dominated by the case of the Cadbury chocolate products. The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MMoH) confirmed that samples of Cadbury Hazelnut Milk Chocolate and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond contained porcine DNA. A day later, the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (Jakim) suspended the halal certification for the two products. Jakim Director-General, Datuk Othman Mustapha said that the action…

Headlines: Iraq Crisis: The Country is Facing Imminent Break Up, Say Western Diplomats Will Obama Repeat His Iraq Mistakes in Afghanistan? Should China Fear Islamic Insurgency? Details: Iraq Crisis: The Country is Facing Imminent Break Up, Say Western Diplomats Western officials fear Iraq is facing imminent break-up, as the jihadist takeover of the north seeks to carve the country into different religious fiefdoms. Using their strongest language to date, diplomats…