Noting that Diwali has been gaining increasing recognition in the US, six US lawmakers have urged New York City’s education department to include the Indian festival of lights among new public school holidays. The plea was made in a letter Thursday by Joe Crowley, Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, […]
When President Barack Obama meets the Dalai Lama in the White House on Friday morning, a jaded diplomatic dance will play out. The meeting is being hosted in the Map Room of the White House instead of the Oval Office in a somewhat laughably symbolic scaling down of its perceived importance. It is a meaningless […]
China’s capital Beijing Friday relaxed its birth control policy allowing couples to have a second child if either parent is an only child. An amendment to the Beijing Population and Family Planning Regulations was approved at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, Xinhua reported. The city government would provide […]
A Libyan military rescue plane crashed Friday in Grombalia city in Tunisia killing all 11 people on board, according to Tunisian officials. Tunisia’s defence ministry spokesman Tawfiq Al Rahmouni said that, according to the last call from the plane to the control tower in Tunis-Corthage airport, a fire had broken out in the aircraft. Grombalia […]
Two prominent Sikh organisations in Britain have demanded a full inquiry into the extent of the country’s involvement in the Indian army assault on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, in 1984. Sikh Federation UK and the British Sikh Council, in an open letter, argued that there were “too many serious questions that remain unanswered”, BBC […]
The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Friday said the Taliban were ready for talks despite recent bombardment of their hideouts in North Waziristan region, which they said was a proof of the government’s insincerity. Speaking to journalists from an undisclosed location, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the war has been started by the government and it should […]
A court in the Maldives Thursday sentenced a member of parliament (MP) to one year in prison for refusing to provide police with a urine sample after he was arrested for allegedly consuming alcohol. The criminal court sentenced Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir to a year in prison for refusing to provide his urine sample required […]
China Friday hailed the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna as positive and constructive, which will be “a good start for negotiation” on a comprehensive agreement. “This round of talks will help maintain the momentum of dialogue. It also laid a good foundation for negotiation on a comprehensive agreement,” said Hua Chunying, foreign ministry spokeswoman referring […]
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych Friday announced an early presidential election as one of a package of measures aimed at ending the country’s political crisis. The president agreed to hold the election before the end of the year, as part of a deal to end the crisis. “I am initiating an early presidential election. I am […]
A Sikh American in Minnesota drove away with a victory when he won the right for the community in the US state to wear their turbans in driver’s licence photos. Last month when Blaine resident Jatinder Singh went to the local Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) office to get his licence renewed, he was told […]