Arts, Culture & Books

A Buddhist monk fishes out a vial of cannabis oil from his robe and puts a drop under his tongue -- one of many flocking to a weed festival in northeastern Thailand, where excitement is building over a medical marijuana boom.Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise marijuana for medicinal purposes last year, joining a growing list of governments including Canada, … [Read more...] about Thailand marijuana festival has visitors on a high

R as Iyah V. describes himself as confrontational, especially with the police. Well known in Jamaica for his outspoken support of the marijuana industry, the Rastafarian - who sports a long, white beard and dreadlocks - has had various run-ins with the law over the years.Authorities have long persecuted Rastafari, he said, including their sacramental use of marijuana, which Jamaica … [Read more...] about As Jamaica looks to cash in on cannabis, Rastafarians fear being left out

An arched entrance flanked by two towers, elaborate carvings and a broad-aisled nave: a 5th century limestone church in northwestern Syria is the architectural forerunner of France's famed Notre-Dame cathedral.Hemmed by the village of Qalb Lozeh (Arabic for Heart of the Almond), the cathedral which goes by the same name is widely hailed as Syria's finest example of Byzantine-era … [Read more...] about In war-torn Syria, an ancestor of Notre-Dame still stands

Tourists, devout Catholics and others are looking on mournfully at Notre Dame Cathedral, regretting that they can't get inside the magnificent monument on this Easter weekend because of the damage caused by a violent fire. The Paris fire service said Saturday that the last hot points have been cooled, and firefighters who had worked inside non-stop since Monday's fire have now left. Crowds lined … [Read more...] about Tourists, Easter worshippers lament closure of Notre Dame

Two weeks into Mariam’s forced marriage to her cousin according to Iraqi tribal custom, she desperately doused herself in fuel, flicked on a lighter and attempted suicide by self-immolation.The 22-year-old spent three days in hospital in Iraq’s southern Misan province last summer before succumbing to her wounds, recalled sheikh Haydar Saadoun.“A university classmate from a different tribe … [Read more...] about In Iraq, tribal traditions rob women of rights

Immersed up to her neck in a dark viscous liquid, Sulfiya smiles in delight, confident that the fetid substance will cure her painful condition. Sulfiya, a Russian woman in her 60s, has travelled to Azerbaijan's north-western city of Naftalan in the hope that crude oil baths at a local sanatorium will end her years of suffering from polyarthritis, a disease affecting the joints."This is so … [Read more...] about Crude oil touted as health cure in Azerbaijan

On Libya's front lines, fighters often hold a gun in one hand and a smartphone in the other, using their cameras in the propaganda war. Since strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to seize the capital Tripoli, most Libyans have watched the fighting on social media.Facebook has become the main online battleground, where both sides weaponise photos and video footage -- both real and … [Read more...] about Online frontline:in Libya, battles also rage on social media

Children from poor families in sub-Saharan Africa have been able to swap cleaning up cowpats for lessons thanks to a solar power project that rewards parents for sending them to school.South Korean solar firm Yolk has designed a cow-shaped solar power station for schools that can be used to charge power banks for families while their children are in class.The design references the fact … [Read more...] about Solar powered ‘cow’ helps children swap farming for classes

This week, Dubai unveiled its latest megaproject: A stadium in the heart of a super luxe shopping and dining destination. The arena, which will host sports events and concerts, is located in a leisure retail and residential destination called City Walk, which itself is new and was developed by Meraas, a company owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It's just one in a pipeline … [Read more...] about Dubai arena is latest project unveiled despite weaker growth