About 10,000 Japanese men clad only in loincloths braved freezing temperatures to pack into a temple at the weekend and scramble in the dark for lucky wooden talismans tossed into the crowd, in a ritual that dates back more than 500 years.

Loin-clothed men brave cold for Japan's 'naked festival'

Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate high fived young children and tasted ice cream in Wales on Tuesday (February 4) while on an official royal tour.

Prince William and Kate enjoy ice cream, meet children in Wales

One of the most famous faces in the world peers out from a mosaic of Rubik's cubes in a Paris auction house where a version of the "Mona Lisa" will be up for bids later in the month.

Rubik's cube Mona Lisa to be auctioned in Paris

The 23-day Copenhagen Light Festival kicked off this weekend, bringing some much needed light and colour to the dark and wintery Danish capital.

Light festival brightens up wintery Copenhagen

In the 1980's Brazil's first indigenous Congressman, Xavante chief Juruna, went around with a recorder to tape conversations with other politicians because he said the white man's word was not to be trusted.

'Telling our truth' - Brazil's tribes stride into digital age to defend their culture, forests

In Harbin, five penguins were out on Tuesday (January 7) to show people how to walk properly on a snowy day.

Penguins in Harbin show you how to walk on snow

Artists from around the world flocked to one of China's coldest cities to compete in the annual ice sculpting competition, using blocks of ice from the nearby Songhua river.

Ice sculpture artists compete in annual China ice festival

The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow festival kicked off on Sunday (January 5) with bang of fireworks and with display of spectacular ice sculptures and structures in the China's one of the coldest cities near Siberia.

China: Harbin kicks off ice festival with firework and light show

The Golden Globes is the first major awards show of the year and the glitzy nominees and presenters took to the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday (January 5).

Awards season kicks off with a celebrity-filled Golden Globes carpet

A cave painting found on Indonesia's island of Sulawesi, depicting human-like figures hunting animals, appears to be the earliest known pictorial record of story-telling, according to a study by a team of Australian and Indonesian researchers.

Indonesian cave art is earliest known record of "story telling," researchers say

As the roar of cannons boomed across the field on Saturday (November 30), men in military uniform clashed, firing at each other and reenacting one of the greatest battles in modern history.

Czech village hosts Napoleon's Battle of Austerlitz reenactment

A 17th-century copy of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic portrait "Mona Lisa" was sold on Tuesday at a Sotheby's auction house in Paris for 552,000 euros ($611,560.80), smashing its initial valuation of 70,000 and 90,000 euros (77,000 to 99,000 U.S. dollars).

Replica of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa sells for 553,000 euros

One of the last five known concert posters from the Beatles 1966 Shea Stadium show is hitting the auction block.

Actor puts his rare Beatles' concert poster on the auction block

Mexico City came alive on Friday (November 01) to celebrate the dead with a Day of the Dead celebration complete a with massive offering dedicated to iconic deceased Mexicans in the capital city's main square - the Zocalo.

Day of the Dead altars take over Mexico City's main square

Union Minister of State for Culture, Prahlad Singh Patel, will inaugurate an e-portal and a YouTube channel of Rashtriya Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) to promote Indian culture.

The e-portal and the channel will be inaugurated at an event -- "Digital Bharat - Digital Sanskriti" at the CCRT headquarters in Delhi.

"With an aim to take India to a newer digital pinnacle and to promote our culture, the Union Minister will inaugurate CCRT e-portal and YouTube Channel (with support from Routes 2 Routes)," a press release said.

In order to explore and understand the unknown aspects of India`s lesser-known places and their rural and semi-urban culture, the CCRT, which falls under the Ministry of Culture, has started publishing books from the series "Untold Tales of India`s Cities".

The book titled "Dewas Ki Sanskritik Parampara" written by Jeevan Singh Thakur and published in this series by CCRT will be released by the Union Minister.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Union Minister of State for Culture, Prahlad Singh Patel, will inaugurate an e-portal and a YouTube channel of Rashtriya Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) to promote Indian culture.

Union Minister of State for Culture, Prahlad Singh Patel, will inaugurate an e-portal and a YouTube channel of Rashtriya Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) to promote Indian culture. The e-portal and the channel will be inaugurated at an event -- "Digital Bharat - Digital Sanskriti" at the CCRT headquarters in Delhi. "With an aim to take India to a newer digital pinnacle and to promote our culture, the Union Minister will inaugurate CCRT e-portal and YouTube Channel (with support from Routes 2 Routes)," a press release said. In order to explore and understand the unknown aspects of India`s lesser-known places and their rural and semi-urban culture, the CCRT, which falls under the Ministry of Culture, has started publishing books from the series "Untold Tales of India`s Cities". The book titled "Dewas Ki Sanskritik Parampara" written by Jeevan Singh Thakur and published in this series by CCRT will be released by the Union Minister.

Centre to launch e-portal, YouTube channel to promote 'Indian culture'

The "Mona Lisa" returned to its original room on Monday (October 7) at the Louvre Museum after two months of renovations in the hall where other Renaissance paintings are displayed.

Mona Lisa takes back its corner of the Louvre after renovation

Nearly&nbsp;one&nbsp;in&nbsp;12&nbsp;employees working in the&nbsp;Lloyd's&nbsp;of London&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;market&nbsp;has&nbsp;witnessed&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;harassment&nbsp;there in the past year and a quarter has seen excessive drinking, according to a culture&nbsp;survey&nbsp;published by&nbsp;Lloyd's&nbsp;on Tuesday.

The&nbsp;market, which employees around 45,000 people in&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;and broking firms, is trying to improve standards of behaviour after reports earlier this year of&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;harassment&nbsp;and daytime drinking.

According to the&nbsp;survey&nbsp;of 6,000, 8 per cent&nbsp;of respondents had seen&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;harassment&nbsp;at&nbsp;Lloyd's&nbsp;in the last&nbsp;12&nbsp;months and 24 per cent had seen "excessive consumption of alcohol", while 22 per cent had seen people at their firms ignore inappropriate behaviour.

"I don't think anyone&nbsp;can deny there is a problem to address here,"&nbsp;Lloyd's&nbsp;Chief Executive John Neal told Reuters by telephone, adding that publishing the&nbsp;survey&nbsp;in its "ugly raw fashion" should help bring about change.

Lloyd's&nbsp;has already introduced sanctions for poor behaviour, including potential life bans on entering its City tower.

It said on Tuesday it was taking further action in response to the&nbsp;survey, including introducing a gender balance plan, business conduct requirements and setting up an advisory group chaired by&nbsp;Lloyd's&nbsp;board member Fiona Luck.

Sixty per cent of the&nbsp;survey&nbsp;respondents were men and 90 per cent&nbsp;of respondents based in London.

Trade body the&nbsp;Lloyd's&nbsp;Market&nbsp;Association (LMA) said it would launch a new CEO network aimed at improving the reporting of&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;misconduct in the&nbsp;marketplace after the&nbsp;survey&nbsp;revealed many respondents did not know who to raise concerns with.

The LMA Board, which includes 16 chief executives and other senior&nbsp;market&nbsp;leaders from&nbsp;Lloyd's&nbsp;managing agents, have committed to receive reports of inappropriate behaviour which will then be dealt with in "absolute confidence."

"With this constructive resolution we make it very clear that LMA Members will take action at the very highest levels," Sheila Cameron, CEO of the LMA said.

Nearly one in 12 employees working in the Lloyd's of London insurance market has witnessed sexual harassment there in the past year and a quarter has seen excessive drinking, according to a culture survey published by Lloyd's on Tuesday.

Nearly one in 12 employees working in the Lloyd's of London insurance market has witnessed sexual harassment there in the past year and a quarter has seen excessive drinking, according to a culture survey published by Lloyd's on Tuesday. The market, which employees around 45,000 people in insurance and broking firms, is trying to improve standards of behaviour after reports earlier this year of sexual harassment and daytime drinking. According to the survey of 6,000, 8 per cent of respondents had seen sexual harassment at Lloyd's in the last 12 months and 24 per cent had seen "excessive consumption of alcohol", while 22 per cent had seen people at their firms ignore inappropriate behaviour. "I don't think anyone can deny there is a problem to address here," Lloyd's Chief Executive John Neal told Reuters by telephone, adding that publishing the survey in its "ugly raw fashion" should help bring about change. Lloyd's has already introduced sanctions for poor behaviour, including potential life bans on entering its City tower. It said on Tuesday it was taking further action in response to the survey, including introducing a gender balance plan, business conduct requirements and setting up an advisory group chaired by Lloyd's board member Fiona Luck. Sixty per cent of the survey respondents were men and 90 per cent of respondents based in London. Trade body the Lloyd's Market Association (LMA) said it would launch a new CEO network aimed at improving the reporting of sexual misconduct in the marketplace after the survey revealed many respondents did not know who to raise concerns with. The LMA Board, which includes 16 chief executives and other senior market leaders from Lloyd's managing agents, have committed to receive reports of inappropriate behaviour which will then be dealt with in "absolute confidence." "With this constructive resolution we make it very clear that LMA Members will take action at the very highest levels," Sheila Cameron, CEO of the LMA said.

One in 12 witnessed sexual harassment in Lloyd's insurance market: Survey

Drajat Iskandar has been lending a hand to reviving the near-extinct art of "wayang bambu," or bamboo puppetry in West Java.

Puppets reborn: Indonesian pulls strings to revive near-dead artform

Kuzuzangpa la! I feel privileged to file this column from Thimphu, the beautiful capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. With a host of other historians, biographers, musicians, intellectuals, and artists—local, Indian, and international, I am an invited speaker at the 10th anniversary edition of Mountain Echoes, ‘The Bhutan festival of arts, literature and culture’. The inaugural session has just concluded with a moving tribute to the recently deceased father of Her Majesty the Royal Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The Queen Mother is not only the patron but also one of the founders of the festival. In fact, the festival was conceived in her drawing room in a conversation with curator Namita Gokhale and our then ambassador Pavan Varma, author, senior JD (U) leader, and former MP. In subsequent years, Mita Kapur, Pramod Kumar and their Bhutanese partners have taken the festival forward, with support from the Jaypee group. Ten years ago, I could not make it to the festival opening, so I am especially happy to be here for its 10th anniversary. 
&nbsp; 
In a way, the over-riding theme of Mountain Echoes, which is to share stories and create memories, also sums up its importance. Even those who considered Bhutan as little more than an attractive tourist destination suddenly became aware of its strategic significance after the Doklam crisis. The tiny mountain kingdom, with a population of less than a million, is of immense value to India as a long-standing friend and partner. The Indo-Bhutan friendship treaties of 1949 and 2007 only reinforced this well-known geopolitical and historic fact. Indeed, the Indian embassy in Bhutan, with its 74-acre campus, is the largest anywhere in the world. No wonder the current ambassador, Ruchira Kambhoj, is fully backing the festival. 
&nbsp; 
India also plays a crucial role in the economic, technological and industrial development of Bhutan. With a peaceable, law-abiding, and contented population, Bhutan is considered a modern Shangri-La. Indeed, it prides itself on its very high Gross National Happiness (GNH) index. The phrase itself was the coinage of the former king, His Highness Jigme Singye Wangchuck. In an interview with a Financial Times correspondent at Mumbai airport in 1972, he famously quipped, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product.” This idea is now recognised by the UN and has worldwide acceptance. Indeed Bhutan, which has practically no crime or corruption, is a rather special place in today’s ugly, aggressive, and stressful times. It is perfectly safe for locals and tourists alike, in addition to being relatively unspoilt.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Mountain Echoes, organised by the India-Bhutan Foundation in association with Siyahi, is a valuable avenue of strengthening and cementing people-to-people ties between our two countries. As the Queen Mother said, sharing each other’s stories of happiness and sorrow can create more lasting bonds than merely diplomatic relations between two nations. I was personally very moved by her reminiscences of her father, a self-made, frugal, hardworking, highly disciplined and compassionate man who presented an inspiring model to his many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The house of Wangchuk to which the monarchy belongs was founded in 1907. The 39-year-old His Highness Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk is the current monarch, his father having abdicated in his favour in 2006. From wielding absolute authority, the Wangchuks have gradually favoured devolution of powers to democratic and elected institutions. Like Hindus, Buddhists also share the idea of the Dharma-Raja, the righteous ruler who selflessly serves the people and upholds Dharma. That is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although an elected leader and not monarch, is immensely popular in Bhutan as his recent visit shows. The people here consider him a righteous and selfless ruler.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
It would be in the fitness of things if we reciprocate Indo-Bhutanese friendship by hosting an Indian version of Mountain Echoes. It would also serve to highlight and celebrate our own myriad mountain cultures. Hill cultures of the Himalayas share over a millennium of Hindu-Buddhist Dharmic commonalities. Living in Himachal Pradesh as I do, I was struck by the similarities of the traditions and cultural practices, including language, food, music, dance, and religion, all the way from Ladakh to Bhutan nearly 3,000 kms away.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
There is a glorious cultural arc of Mahayana Buddhism that unites us. It passes through and includes Lahaul, Spiti, Dharamshala, Nalanda, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Tawang, going all the way to Lhasa, Tibet, and beyond to Mongolia. These precious cultural and civilisational ties have served us well both in times of adversity and prosperity. We need to preserve, protect, and enhance them for the coming generations too. “Mountain Echoes” offers an excellent platform for doing so. The organisers and curators, both Indian and Bhutanese, deserve our congratulations and felicitations on their successful 10th anniversary.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-sharing-stories-creating-memories-2784300">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Kuzuzangpa la! I feel privileged to file this column from Thimphu, the beautiful capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. With a host of other historians, biographers, musicians, intellectuals, and artists—local, Indian, and international, I am an invited speaker at the 10th anniversary edition of Mountain Echoes, ‘The Bhutan festival of arts, literature and culture’.

Kuzuzangpa la! I feel privileged to file this column from Thimphu, the beautiful capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. With a host of other historians, biographers, musicians, intellectuals, and artists—local, Indian, and international, I am an invited speaker at the 10th anniversary edition of Mountain Echoes, ‘The Bhutan festival of arts, literature and culture’. The inaugural session has just concluded with a moving tribute to the recently deceased father of Her Majesty the Royal Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. The Queen Mother is not only the patron but also one of the founders of the festival. In fact, the festival was conceived in her drawing room in a conversation with curator Namita Gokhale and our then ambassador Pavan Varma, author, senior JD (U) leader, and former MP. In subsequent years, Mita Kapur, Pramod Kumar and their Bhutanese partners have taken the festival forward, with support from the Jaypee group. Ten years ago, I could not make it to the festival opening, so I am especially happy to be here for its 10th anniversary. In a way, the over-riding theme of Mountain Echoes, which is to share stories and create memories, also sums up its importance. Even those who considered Bhutan as little more than an attractive tourist destination suddenly became aware of its strategic significance after the Doklam crisis. The tiny mountain kingdom, with a population of less than a million, is of immense value to India as a long-standing friend and partner. The Indo-Bhutan friendship treaties of 1949 and 2007 only reinforced this well-known geopolitical and historic fact. Indeed, the Indian embassy in Bhutan, with its 74-acre campus, is the largest anywhere in the world. No wonder the current ambassador, Ruchira Kambhoj, is fully backing the festival. India also plays a crucial role in the economic, technological and industrial development of Bhutan. With a peaceable, law-abiding, and contented population, Bhutan is considered a modern Shangri-La. Indeed, it prides itself on its very high Gross National Happiness (GNH) index. The phrase itself was the coinage of the former king, His Highness Jigme Singye Wangchuck. In an interview with a Financial Times correspondent at Mumbai airport in 1972, he famously quipped, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product.” This idea is now recognised by the UN and has worldwide acceptance. Indeed Bhutan, which has practically no crime or corruption, is a rather special place in today’s ugly, aggressive, and stressful times. It is perfectly safe for locals and tourists alike, in addition to being relatively unspoilt. Mountain Echoes, organised by the India-Bhutan Foundation in association with Siyahi, is a valuable avenue of strengthening and cementing people-to-people ties between our two countries. As the Queen Mother said, sharing each other’s stories of happiness and sorrow can create more lasting bonds than merely diplomatic relations between two nations. I was personally very moved by her reminiscences of her father, a self-made, frugal, hardworking, highly disciplined and compassionate man who presented an inspiring model to his many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The house of Wangchuk to which the monarchy belongs was founded in 1907. The 39-year-old His Highness Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk is the current monarch, his father having abdicated in his favour in 2006. From wielding absolute authority, the Wangchuks have gradually favoured devolution of powers to democratic and elected institutions. Like Hindus, Buddhists also share the idea of the Dharma-Raja, the righteous ruler who selflessly serves the people and upholds Dharma. That is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although an elected leader and not monarch, is immensely popular in Bhutan as his recent visit shows. The people here consider him a righteous and selfless ruler. It would be in the fitness of things if we reciprocate Indo-Bhutanese friendship by hosting an Indian version of Mountain Echoes. It would also serve to highlight and celebrate our own myriad mountain cultures. Hill cultures of the Himalayas share over a millennium of Hindu-Buddhist Dharmic commonalities. Living in Himachal Pradesh as I do, I was struck by the similarities of the traditions and cultural practices, including language, food, music, dance, and religion, all the way from Ladakh to Bhutan nearly 3,000 kms away. There is a glorious cultural arc of Mahayana Buddhism that unites us. It passes through and includes Lahaul, Spiti, Dharamshala, Nalanda, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Tawang, going all the way to Lhasa, Tibet, and beyond to Mongolia. These precious cultural and civilisational ties have served us well both in times of adversity and prosperity. We need to preserve, protect, and enhance them for the coming generations too. “Mountain Echoes” offers an excellent platform for doing so. The organisers and curators, both Indian and Bhutanese, deserve our congratulations and felicitations on their successful 10th anniversary. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India-Bhutan ties: Sharing stories, creating memories

A European subsidiary of British beverage giant Diageo Plc signed a joint venture deal with state-run Cuba Ron SA on Monday (August 12) to market Santiago de Cuba Rum, in defiance of U.S. efforts to dissuade investment in the Communist-run country.

British beverage giant Diageo to market Cuban rum

Climate change could wreak "irreversible damage" on the world's most precious ancient monuments and other cultural sites, experts warned Saturday as they pushed for UN protection for major global sites.

Academics and policymakers gathered in Athens for a meeting on the threats to world heritage called for an array of tools to predict, measure and counter the effects of climate change.

They are campaigning to have the issue included on the agenda at the UN Summit for Climate Change in New York in September.

Dimitrios Pandermalis, director of the city's Acropolis Museum said that while environmental damage and deterioration has always been a challenge for monuments, these threats are accelerating.

"The scale of things is different and the destruction can be irreversible," he said.&nbsp;

The UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) warned in October that warming was on track towards a catastrophic 3C or 4C rise, and that avoiding global chaos would require a major transformation.

"Climate change is a threat to our future, but also to our heritage, natural and cultural," said UN Secretary-General Anthony Guterres ahead of the summit.

"Extreme weather events and shifts in climate are taking a toll on ancient monuments and sites."

The Athens meeting called for improved tools to help gauge the threat posed by climate change and mitigate risks, like threat maps based on climatic projections.

The conference highlighted the challenges in preserving underwater heritage such as shipwrecks.

The Head of the Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology at the Academy of Athens warned that "with man-made global warming everything will become more acid in the atmosphere but also in the seas" posing a threat to submarine monuments. &nbsp;

The conference was jointly hosted by the Greek government, the UN and the UN's cultural agency UNESCO.

Climate change could wreak "irreversible damage" on the world's most precious ancient monuments and other cultural sites, experts warned Saturday as they pushed for UN protection for major global sites.

Climate change could wreak "irreversible damage" on the world's most precious ancient monuments and other cultural sites, experts warned Saturday as they pushed for UN protection for major global sites. Academics and policymakers gathered in Athens for a meeting on the threats to world heritage called for an array of tools to predict, measure and counter the effects of climate change. They are campaigning to have the issue included on the agenda at the UN Summit for Climate Change in New York in September. Dimitrios Pandermalis, director of the city's Acropolis Museum said that while environmental damage and deterioration has always been a challenge for monuments, these threats are accelerating. "The scale of things is different and the destruction can be irreversible," he said. The UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) warned in October that warming was on track towards a catastrophic 3C or 4C rise, and that avoiding global chaos would require a major transformation. "Climate change is a threat to our future, but also to our heritage, natural and cultural," said UN Secretary-General Anthony Guterres ahead of the summit. "Extreme weather events and shifts in climate are taking a toll on ancient monuments and sites." The Athens meeting called for improved tools to help gauge the threat posed by climate change and mitigate risks, like threat maps based on climatic projections. The conference highlighted the challenges in preserving underwater heritage such as shipwrecks. The Head of the Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology at the Academy of Athens warned that "with man-made global warming everything will become more acid in the atmosphere but also in the seas" posing a threat to submarine monuments. The conference was jointly hosted by the Greek government, the UN and the UN's cultural agency UNESCO.

Experts raise alarm over climate change threat to cultural heritage

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday lauded the role of Hindi language in developing India’s culture and integrity and said it was increasingly becoming popular in other countries and also in the social media.&nbsp;

Addressing the 82nd convocation of the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha here, she said the institution was promoting not only Hindi, but also other south Indian languages.

Noting that language plays a significant role in connecting people, Swaraj said Hindi was becoming popular in other countries also.

Recalling the services of political leaders who laid the foundation for propagating Hindi, she said the late Atal Behari Vajpayee was the first Indian leader to address the United Nations General Assembly in the national language.

Carrying forward this great tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2014 delivered a speech at the UNGA in Hindi.

Present trends indicated that there was an increase in job opportunities for Hindi graduates.

Hindi offers a promising career as many Hindi publications and news channels have emerged during the past few years, she added.

The Union Minister also said that there was a growing interest among foreign diplomats and dignitaries to learn Hindi. Several countries have requested the Indian government to set up centres of learning to promote Hindi, she said.

The language was also gaining popularity on various social media such as Twitter and Facebook. The sabha was established in 1918 by Mahatma Gandhi with the aim of propagating Hindi in southern states.

The institution, which is celebrating its centenary year, was formally inaugurated on June 17, 1918, in the presence of Annie Besant, at the Gokhale Hall in George Town, before it was moved to its present location in T-Nagar here.

In recognition of the services rendered by the Sabha, the Parliament had conferred the status of “Institution of National Importance” by enacting a special act. The act authorises the Sabha to award degrees in Hindi like other universities.

The Union Minister gave away medals and degrees to graduates and post graduates.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday lauded the role of Hindi language in developing India’s culture and integrity and said it was increasingly becoming popular in other countries and also in the social media.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday lauded the role of Hindi language in developing India’s culture and integrity and said it was increasingly becoming popular in other countries and also in the social media. Addressing the 82nd convocation of the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha here, she said the institution was promoting not only Hindi, but also other south Indian languages. Noting that language plays a significant role in connecting people, Swaraj said Hindi was becoming popular in other countries also. Recalling the services of political leaders who laid the foundation for propagating Hindi, she said the late Atal Behari Vajpayee was the first Indian leader to address the United Nations General Assembly in the national language. Carrying forward this great tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2014 delivered a speech at the UNGA in Hindi. Present trends indicated that there was an increase in job opportunities for Hindi graduates. Hindi offers a promising career as many Hindi publications and news channels have emerged during the past few years, she added. The Union Minister also said that there was a growing interest among foreign diplomats and dignitaries to learn Hindi. Several countries have requested the Indian government to set up centres of learning to promote Hindi, she said. The language was also gaining popularity on various social media such as Twitter and Facebook. The sabha was established in 1918 by Mahatma Gandhi with the aim of propagating Hindi in southern states. The institution, which is celebrating its centenary year, was formally inaugurated on June 17, 1918, in the presence of Annie Besant, at the Gokhale Hall in George Town, before it was moved to its present location in T-Nagar here. In recognition of the services rendered by the Sabha, the Parliament had conferred the status of “Institution of National Importance” by enacting a special act. The act authorises the Sabha to award degrees in Hindi like other universities. The Union Minister gave away medals and degrees to graduates and post graduates.

Sushma Swaraj lauds role of Hindi in promoting India’s culture

Saudi Arabia announced another cabinet reshuffle&nbsp;Saturday&nbsp;with a heavy focus on culture and religion, as the kingdom undergoes a major image rehaul.&nbsp;

This is the second significant government change since the appointment of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, son of the king, as heir to the region's most powerful throne. Prince Mohammed serves as deputy prime minister under his father, King Salman.&nbsp;

State news agency SPA announced King Salman had replaced the country's labour, Islamic affairs and culture ministers.&nbsp;

The kingdom also announced it had set up a royal commission for the holy city of Mecca, which is expected to welcome millions of Muslim pilgrims for the annual hajj in August, to be chaired by Prince Mohammed.&nbsp;

The powerful Prince Mohammed has consolidated his grip on power since sidelining his cousin as crown prince last June.&nbsp;

He has since spearheaded a string of policy changes in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, including reinstating cinemas and allowing women to drive.&nbsp;

He was also seen as the driving force behind the detention of 200 royals and businessmen at the Ritz Carlton in November in what the government said was a crackdown on corruption. Most have since been released, after reaching settlements with the state.

On Friday, the crown prince earned a harsh warning from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the jihadist group's Yemen branch, over his "sinful projects", which AQAP said included a WWE wrestling event hosted by the kingdom in April.&nbsp;

State news agency SPA announced King Salman had replaced the country's labour, Islamic affairs and culture ministers

Saudi Arabia announced another cabinet reshuffle Saturday with a heavy focus on culture and religion, as the kingdom undergoes a major image rehaul. This is the second significant government change since the appointment of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, son of the king, as heir to the region's most powerful throne. Prince Mohammed serves as deputy prime minister under his father, King Salman. State news agency SPA announced King Salman had replaced the country's labour, Islamic affairs and culture ministers. The kingdom also announced it had set up a royal commission for the holy city of Mecca, which is expected to welcome millions of Muslim pilgrims for the annual hajj in August, to be chaired by Prince Mohammed. The powerful Prince Mohammed has consolidated his grip on power since sidelining his cousin as crown prince last June. He has since spearheaded a string of policy changes in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, including reinstating cinemas and allowing women to drive. He was also seen as the driving force behind the detention of 200 royals and businessmen at the Ritz Carlton in November in what the government said was a crackdown on corruption. Most have since been released, after reaching settlements with the state. On Friday, the crown prince earned a harsh warning from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the jihadist group's Yemen branch, over his "sinful projects", which AQAP said included a WWE wrestling event hosted by the kingdom in April.

Saudi Arabia reshuffles cabinet with eye on culture

British parliamentarians said they were prepared to issue formal summons for Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to appear before them and answer questions over a data scandal which has engulfed the technology giant.

The social network has faced questions on both sides of the Atlantic over how millions of users' details got into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, and over its wider handling of personal data.

Zuckerberg previously declined to come in person to answer questions from British lawmakers, instead sending Facebook's Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer to face a four-hour grilling last month. Schroepfer apologised for errors made by the firm and vowed to do more to improve transparency.

But the head of parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Damian Collins said on Tuesday he still wanted Zuckerberg to appear before lawmakers, ideally by May 24, and listed 39 questions or points which remained unanswered.

"While Mr Zuckerberg does not normally come under the jurisdiction of the UK parliament, he will do so the next time he enters the country," Collins wrote in a letter.

"We hope that he will respond positively to our request, but if not the Committee will resolve to issue a formal summons for him to appear when he is next in the UK."

Zuckerberg previously declined to come in person to answer questions from British lawmakers, instead sending Facebook's Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer to face a four-hour grilling last month

British parliamentarians said they were prepared to issue formal summons for Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to appear before them and answer questions over a data scandal which has engulfed the technology giant. The social network has faced questions on both sides of the Atlantic over how millions of users' details got into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, and over its wider handling of personal data. Zuckerberg previously declined to come in person to answer questions from British lawmakers, instead sending Facebook's Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer to face a four-hour grilling last month. Schroepfer apologised for errors made by the firm and vowed to do more to improve transparency. But the head of parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Damian Collins said on Tuesday he still wanted Zuckerberg to appear before lawmakers, ideally by May 24, and listed 39 questions or points which remained unanswered. "While Mr Zuckerberg does not normally come under the jurisdiction of the UK parliament, he will do so the next time he enters the country," Collins wrote in a letter. "We hope that he will respond positively to our request, but if not the Committee will resolve to issue a formal summons for him to appear when he is next in the UK."

UK lawmakers prepared to summon Facebook boss Zuckerberg over data scandal

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