WASHINGTON: Physician-author of Indian-American origin Abraham Verghese has been selected for the 2015 National Humanities Medal. He would be conferred the honour by US President Barack Obama. Releasing a statement, the White House said, "His range of proficiency embodies the diversity of the humanities, from his efforts to emphasise empathy in medicine, to his imaginative renderings of the human drama."
Suicide attack on mosque kills 25
ISLAMABAD: At least 25 people were killed and more than 30 injured at a mosque, when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives during the Friday prayers. The blast occurred at the place of worship in Payee Khan village of Anbar Tehsil, when about 200 worshippers were gathered to offer their weekly prayers. A senior tribal administration official said, "It was a suicide blast. The Friday prayer was in progress at the mosque when the attackers shouted Allahu Akbar and struck." Naveed Akbar, assistant political agent of Mohmang Agency, said, "A portion of the mosque collapsed in the blast and fell on worshippers. We are still retrieving bodies and the injured." There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
IS & Taliban claim killing 3 Pak soldiers
PESHAWAR: Three Pakistani soldiers were killed in an ambush claimed by both, the Islamic State and a Pakistani Taliban faction. A security official said, "They were travelling in an unmarked van near the congested Daudzai area when unknown armed men opened fire at them." The Pakistani army often uses unmarked vehicles for transportation of soldiers in volatile areas around Peshawar. Islamic State-affiliated news agency Amaq said the terrorist outfit was behind the act, while Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, an offshoot of Pakistani Taliban group also claimed responsibility for the ambush.
Hindu Marriage Bill to be tabled in Pak House
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government is expected to table the much-debated Hindu Marriage Bill at the next session of the Parliament, which will be held in the last week of September. Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael said the legislation is expected to address key issues relating to the registration of marriages, divorce, and forced conversions. "It will be a historic day... and the credit goes to (both the) opposition and ruling parties which are on the same page on the draft," Michael said. A large number of Hindu community members, especially women, do not have basic documentation to prove their marital status. They are also deprived of legal rights, such as inheritance, remarriage, separation, adoption of children and annulment of marriage. If made legal, the bill is expected to also end the practice of abducting married Hindu women.
No Indian in Man Booker shortlist
LONDON: The Man Booker prize shortlist unveiled on Tuesday showed no traces of an Indian author. The six authors on the list include first time author Ottessa Moshfegh, a Boston-born 35 year old who was selected for 'Eileen', Scottish writer Graeme Macrae Burnet for 'His Bloody Project', South African-born British writer Deborah Levy for 'Hot Milk', David Szala for 'All That Man Is', Madeleine Thien's 'Do Not Say We Have Nothing', and Paul Beatty's 'The Sellout'.
Animal sacrifices turn Dhaka streets into rivers of blood
DHAKA: Massive-scaled animal sacrifices made to mark the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, mixed with heavy rains, turned the streets of Dhaka bloody last week. Residents of the Bangladeshi capital used parking lots, garages, and alleys to kill the animals and the blood flowed into the flooded streets, turning them into rivers of blood. The traditional festival of Bakri Eid is celebrated by slaughtering livestock, usually a goat or sheep, to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith.
Merkel party loses, anti-migrants gain in polls
BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union suffered a massive blow in the Berlin state elections while the right-wing populist AfD capitalised on the anger over the country's open door refugee policy. Merkel's CDU won just 18 per cent of its worst post-war resulty in the city in the vote that marked yet another milestone for the opposition. Germany took in one million asylum seekers last years, of which 70,000 came to Berlin. Merkel conceded before the election that it was hard to reach the "protest voters" who have turned their backs on mainstream parties.
