Society News

South Asia Newsline - Feb 06, 2014

South Asia Newsline - Feb 06, 2014

Feb 7, 2014

Security forces to take tough action against anti-talk faction of NDFB (S) in Assam

Assam, Feb 07 (ANI): Two people, including a senior police officer and an informer, were killed and four others injured on January 28 after a police team was ambushed by cadres of NDFB (S) in Sonitpur district of Assam. The militants fired upon a police team that was returning to the local police station. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gulzar Hussain was killed in the ambush and four constables suffered bullet injuries. The injured were taken to the Tezpur Civil Hospital. On January 17, NDFB (S) killed five Hindi-speaking people in Kokrajhar district.

Feb 7, 2014

Alarm over 'Big Brother' Turkish Internet curbs

Turkey drew fire Thursday over new Internet curbs portrayed as protecting privacy and the young but which critics say will stifle free speech and accelerate a slide towards authoritarianism. Duration: 00:53

Feb 7, 2014

Yemeni Nobel laureate joins anti-corruption rally

Several hundred protesting Yemeni youths demanded that the government scrap "corrupt" gas deals with foreign firms, including France's Total, which they claim are at vastly lower rates than world market prices. Duration: 00:54

Feb 7, 2014

Supporters of 'May 6th prisoners' arrested in Moscow. Duration: 00:53

A dozen people were arrested in Moscow, while trying to protest in support of "prisoners of May 6," referring to the arrest of people demonstrating against the nomination of Vladimir Putin for a third presidential term. Duration: 00:53

Feb 7, 2014

Pakistan government and Taliban hold first round of talks

Negotiators for Pakistan's government and the Taliban met for more than three hours Thursday in the first round of talks aimed at ending the militants' bloody seven-year insurgency. Duration: 00:55

Feb 7, 2014

Female genital mutilation prevalent in Somalia

February 6th is the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation, a practice that still persists in many countries. According to a report released by UNICEF in 2013, the prevalence of FGM in Somalia remains high at 95%. Duration: 01:15

Feb 7, 2014

Prostitution museum opens in Amsterdam's red-light area

Amsterdam's red-light district opened its first "prostitution museum" on Thursday, hoping to lure tourists who always wondered what life was like for those on the other side of the infamous glass windows -- but were too afraid to ask. Duration: 01:08

Feb 7, 2014

Spanish princess named criminal suspect

Spanish King Juan Carlos’s youngest daughter Cristina has been named as a criminal suspect. On Saturday, she will be grilled by a judge in Palma de Mallorca who suspects her of tax fraud and money laundering.

Feb 7, 2014

Worst winter rainfall since 1766 in parts of Britain

Britain announced emergency funding Thursday to cope with devastating floods after what officials said had been likely the worst spell of winter rainfall in at least 248 years.

Feb 7, 2014

Tunisia marks one year anniversary of Belaid murder

Tunisians Thursday marked 12 turbulent months since opposition politician Chokri Belaid was assassinated, with his family still demanding to know what happened despite the alleged assassin being killed this week.

Feb 7, 2014

Pope's Harley sells to mystery buyer for 210,000 euros

A Harley-Davidson motorbike that briefly belonged to Pope Francis was sold to a mystery European buyer for 210,000 euros ($285,800) at a high-profile auction in Paris on Thursday.

Feb 7, 2014

Tokyo zoo stages 'gorilla escape'

Staff at a Japanese zoo chase a keeper in a gorilla costume as part of an annual escape drill to brush up their skills in the event of a real breakout.

Feb 7, 2014

Ukraine far-right paramilitary defiant over protests

Even as Ukraine's main opposition leaders meet with the authorities to try to resolve their long-running standoff, one influential and unrepentant voice stands out -- that of far-right paramilitary leader Dmytro Yarosh.

Feb 7, 2014

Russia's Lavrov joins in Sochi torch relay

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took part in the Olympic torch relay in Sochi on Thursday, one day before the start of the Games.

Feb 7, 2014