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South Asia
Nepal elects first female president
Nepal’s parliament, on Wednesday, elected communist lawmaker Bidhya Bhandari as the country’s first female president after the adoption of a landmark constitution last month. The former defense minister and the vice-chair of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) defeated her opponent Kul Bahadur Gurung by 327 to…
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South Asia
A way for change in blasphemy law of Pakistan
The Supreme Court in Pakistan on Tuesday urged the state to ensure that no one is forced to endure an investigation or trial on the basis of false blasphemy allegations. The court also rejected the appeal against death sentence of Mumtaz Qadri, who has received death sentence for killing the…
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South Asia
Unspeakable taboo: alcohol in Middle East
Alcohol or liquors are one of the unspeakable taboos around the Middle Eastern countries, with their Muslim majority. Quran prohibits Muslims from drinking alcohol or being intoxicated in any way, but has it always been that way? And does that ever stop them? And who says what’s considered intoxicated and…
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South Asia
Social media campaign spreads love between Pakistan and India
With the political relations between Pakistan and India being unstable lately, the common people from sibling countries have taken it upon themselves to improve the relations. An Indian social media user, Ram Subramanian started a campaign on Thursday by posting a picture of himself with the note, “I am an…
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South Asia
86 stranded Indians cross Wagah border on foot
Due to the deteriorating law and order situation in India, the Samjhota Express train which left from Pakistan was refused entry by the Indian railway authorities, causing eighty-six Indian passengers to make their way home by crossing the Wagah border on foot on Monday. According to Pakistan Railways, the Samjhota…
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South Asia
Malala documentary premiered at London Festival
A documentary about the youngest-ever Nobel Peace laureate Malala had its European premiere this week at the London Film Festival. “He named me Malala” is an intimate portrait of Malala Yousafzai. Humbled by Malala’s aspirations and efforts, American actress Meryl Streep hailed her as the worthy heiress of the suffragettes…
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South East Asia
Korea, Pakistan explore possibilities of Free Trade Agreement
The two Asian republics – Pakistan and Korea, having bilateral trade and diplomatic relations for over three decades, are exploring avenues including Free Trade Agreement to enhance investment and trade volume. Both the countries are very much ambitious to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) however it will take years to…
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East Asia
Bollywood film ‘Zubaan’ wows audience at Busan International Film Fest.
Zubaan, the opening film at the 20th Busan International Film Festival in Korea, is directed by Mozez Singh, an Indian filmmaker from Mumbai. This is the first time that a mainstream Bollywood film has opened the biggest film festival in Asia. The film revolves around a boy, Dilsher (played by…
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South East Asia
Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap at BIFF: Filmmakers need to find their own voice
Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is currently in Busan, as part of jury for the New Currents at Busan International Film Festival. The Asia N journalist Rahul Aijaz caught up with Mr. Kashyap at the festival. Talking about indie filmmakers in India, Mr. Kashyap said he is happy because new Indian…
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South Asia
Indian filmmaker Kabir Khan at BIFF: Mainstream cinema is the most powerful media in India
Indian filmmaker Kabir Khan is currently in Busan, as his megahit film ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ screens at Busan International Film Festival. ‘The Asia N’ journalist Rahul Aijaz caught up with him about his film. Khan said his film was a big success because Salman Khan has not done anything like this…
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