Politics

UN highlights traumas of Syrian refugee children

The UN High Commission for Refugees publishes a report on the plight of Syrian refugees, in particular the challenges facing children and young people in refugee camps in Iraq, Turkey and Jordan.

Nov 29, 2013

Acid attacks point to mounting religious tensions in Zanzibar

The families of two British teenage girls who had acid hurled in their faces in Zanzibar expressed frustration on Friday that no one has been charged almost four months later. The popular tourist island, off Tanzania, is facing rising concerns over the the spectre of radical Islam after a spate of church burnings, riots, acid attacks and assassinations.

Nov 29, 2013

Gold tiara worn by Victoria Beckham to be auctioned

A gold and diamond crown tiara worn by Victoria Adams when she married David Beckham, valued at £18,000-£25,000 and made by jewellery designer Slim Barrett, is to be sold by Bonhams on December 5 during their Fine Jewellery sale.

Nov 29, 2013

Mourners bury Egyptian student killed in Islamist demo

Egyptian mourners on Friday buried a student killed during an Islamist demonstration at Cairo University, as authorities continued their crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

Nov 29, 2013

Thai protesters target army, ruling party headquarters

Defiant Thai opposition protesters storm the army headquarters and besiege Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's party offices, intensifying their fight to bring down her government.

Nov 29, 2013

Fears South Africa's treatment success could breed complacency

South Africa's free AIDS drugs programme has doubled over the last three years and now provides over two million patients with life-saving antiretrovirals. But some fear that this treatment success might make people less careful to avoid infection.

Nov 29, 2013

Georgia, Moldova agree deals with EU, Ukraine refuses

The European Union on Friday initialled association agreements with Georgia and Moldova but failed to draw Ukraine closer in its drive to boost ties with six ex-Soviet states on its eastern flank.

Nov 29, 2013

BJP confident of emerging victorious in Rajasthan polls

Jodhpur, Nov 29 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said he is confident that the BJP will win polls in Rajasthan. He also took a jibe at the Congress for using Twitter to slam BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.

Nov 29, 2013

Bangladesh war crimes committee chief hopes trials will go on after elections

London, Nov 29 (ANI): Chairperson of Bangladesh War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, M. A. Hassan, has pinned his hopes on the tribunal and said that the perpetrators of the 1971 liberation war will be brought to books. In his book titled, 'Beyond Denial: The Evidence of Genocide, and its provenance', Hassan emphasised that the purpose is not for vengeance but for reconciliation, which cannot exist until justice is served and remorse is shown by the perpetrators. While talking to a reporter, Hassan said that he feared that the perpetrators might come to power and cancel the whole process of trials.A war crimes tribunal, which was set up in 2010, requires wrapping up investigations of all those who were accused, as the government aims to finish their trials before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's five-year term ends. She took charge of office in early 2009. Commenting over the ongoing trials, Hassan said that there is no assurance as to whether the trials can be continued.

Nov 29, 2013

Traditional festivals bring together people in the northeast

Meghalaya, Nov 29 (ANI): A traditional festival of the Khasis, the annual Nongkrem Dance, was celebrated with enthusiasm in Meghalaya recently. The five-day long festival is celebrated during autumn at Smit, the capital of the Khasi state of Hima Khyrim. It is celebrated to appease the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a bumper harvest and prosperity of the people. Young men and women, dressed in traditional attires, perform various dances. The festival attracts many tourists every year. Nagaland also bore a festive look as people from the Sumi tribe came together to celebrate their traditional post-harvest festival Ahuna, with much enthusiasm. The festival is a celebration of the season's harvest and prayers for good fortune in the future.

Nov 29, 2013

Western masterpieces offered up to Chinese buyers

A $50 million Rembrandt portrait takes pride of place in a Beijing hotel room, with Picassos and Renoirs dotting the walls, as major Western auction houses look to tempt China's super-rich with Europe's finest art.

Nov 29, 2013

Sexual assault case: Tarun Tejpal granted interim bail till 10 am tomorrow

Panaji, Nov 29 (ANI): Former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief, Tarun Tejpal accused of rape, has been granted interim bail till 10 am Saturday. He was detained after landing at the airport in Goa.

Nov 29, 2013

Family of former PM IK Gujral upset as his memorial remains unfinished

New Delhi, Nov 29 (ANI): One year after the death of IK Gujral, his son has complained that the government did not build a proper memorial for the former Prime Minister. Naresh Gujral, also a leader of regional Shiromani Akali Dal said he has even written several letters to the current Prime Minister concerning the issue.

Nov 29, 2013

Tarun Tejpal Sexual Assault Case: Annie Raja condemns politicization

New Delhi, Nov 29 (ANI): As the young journalist, who is the victim of Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal's alleged sexual assault case, urged political parties to stay away from the controversial case, activist Annie D Raja backed her and condemned the politicization of the issue. The victim had urged political parties including BJP to stay away from the controversial case. "I call upon our political parties to resist the temptation to turn a very important discussion about gender, power and violence into a conversation about themselves,” she said.

Nov 29, 2013

It happens: Lord Buddha's Seat of Enlightenment dazzles with Thai Gold

Bihar, Nov 29 (ANI): India's sacred Buddhist Mahabodhi temple in the eastern state of Bihar, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site shines as its dome is inlaid with 280 kilograms of gold donated by devotees from Thailand. The Mahabodhi Temple complex, the holiest Buddhist of shrines is visited by Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka, China, Japan and the entire of south east Asia. The Mahabodhi temple is a sacred place for Buddhists around the world as it is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The ancient temple is believed to have been built nearly 1500 years ago. Emperor Ashok, the great, visited this holy place in 260 BC and built a small temple there in honor of Buddha.

Nov 29, 2013