The sultanate of Brunei on Wednesday brought into force severe punishments under a new penal code based on sharia or Islamic law, including death by stoning or amputation applied to crimes such as theft, sodomy or adultery.


Severe Sharia law punishments now in force in Brunei


IANS Automatic

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday constituted a five-member commission to probe the alleged abduction, forced conversion and marriage of two Hindu sisters in Sindh province that led to protests by the minority community in the country.


Pakistan HC to probe Hindu girls 'forced' conversion


The tiny Southeast Asian nation of Brunei brings into force on Wednesday harsh sharia laws, including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, that has sparked an international outcry and fears among some citizens.


Brunei brings new sharia laws into force amid outcry


Former "Bigg Boss" celebrities Payal Rohatgi and Gauahar Khan got into a catfight on Twitter over the formers tweets regarding Article 370, which gives Jammu and Kashmir the status of an autonomous state.


Payal, Gauahar's catfight goes religious


Pope Francis has issued a warning to US President Donald Trump and other political leaders, saying that those who close borders "will become prisoners of the walls that they build."


Pope Francis warns Trump about border wall


Pope Francis has arrived here in Morocco's capital to begin a two-day symbolic visit almost 33 years after a similar trip made by Pope John Paul II in 1985 to the Maghreb country.


Pope Francis begins two-day visit to Morocco, to hold mass on Sunday


After fielding controversial self-proclaimed godman Swami Om as the Lok Sabha candidate from the New Delhi constituency, several Hindu outfits have announced that they will take on the AAP in at least five seats in Delhi.


Hindu groups field Swami Om, four others in Delhi


The US Supreme Court has stayed the execution of a Buddhist inmate in Texas whose request that his spiritual adviser be present in the execution chamber was denied.


US Supreme Court stays execution of Buddhist inmate


Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday slammed the Congress, while accusing it of coining the "Hindu terror" slogan and filing cases based on fake evidence to gain political mileage.


Jaitley slams Congress over 'Hindu terror' slogan


India on Friday expressed concern and sought clarification from Pakistan on reports that some controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan to a committee to be associated with the Kartarpur corridor.


India seeks Pakistan's clarification on Kartarpur corridor


New Zealand on Friday paid tribute to the 50 victims of the March 15 terror attack at two mosques in Christchurch, at a national remembrance service held here, where Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for a rejection of racism.


New Zealand remembers Christchurch victims


The US State Department sources have said that they know American residents, either citizens or people with legal status in Washington, were being held in detention camps in Xinjiang, China, the media reported.


American legal residents held in Xinjiang camps: US


The Kerala unit of the BJP on Thursday made it clear that one of its Lok Sabha election campaigns will be the Sabarimala issue.


Kerala BJP to use Sabarimala as election issue


Muslim women from different parts of the country on Wednesday gathered in the national capital urging the "secular" political parties in the country to add in their manifesto the need to have a law against mob lynching.


Muslim women demand law against mob lynching


The 364th three-day annual Urs of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, will begin on April 2.


364th annual Urs of Shah Jahan begins on April 2


Days after two minor Hindu sisters in Pakistan were allegedly kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam, another Hindu girl has been abducted by armed men in Sindh province, media reports said on Wednesday.


Another Hindu girl abducted in Pakistan


A corpse is beautiful, there is nothing impure about it, said Datta Naik of the Dakshinayan Abhiyan, an organisation that promotes rationalism, slamming the purification ritual carried out at the government-run Kala Academy, where Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's mortal remains were kept for public homage on March 18.


Stop promoting superstition: Dakshinayan Abhiyan


Rising unemployment and nationalism on religious lines are the two key issues bothering citizens ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, revealed a survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS and the Azim Premji University.


Unemployment, religious nationalism top poll issues


Urging the electorate to reject the "terror of pseudo-nationalism", the Council for Social Justice and Peace, the social wing of the influential Goa Church, urged voters on Tuesday to take on "corrupt defectors" and political opportunists.


Reject terror of pseudo-nationalism: Goa Church NGO


The Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference (KCBC) declared Tuesday that it will not support any political party in the Lok Sabha elections but will be with those who "protect democracy and secularism".


Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference for secularism


Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav has expressed shock over the attack on a Muslim family here by goons and said the attackers were confident they can attack a Muslim family at will and go scot-free.

Page 17 -