The controversial issue of Muslim girls wearing 'hijab' in educational institutions, which had hit national headlines last year with a government pre-university college in Udupi banning it inside classrooms, does not appear to be a serious campaign issue for the May 10 elections to the Karnataka assembly.
The latest controversy to have struck Malayalam filmdom is the one involving veteran actor Thilakan, who has openly declared a war on what he describes as a 'mafia' of film organisations which was trying to browbeat members to toe their line or face 'banishment' from filmdom.
The South African government has decided to confer 'Order of the Companions of O R Tambo', one of its highest civilian awards, on late diplomat and former Indian defence minister V K Krishna Menon. The award is given in recognition of non-South Africans' contribution in the struggle against apartheid and to restore a democratic society in the country.