Hinduism is often 'distorted' for political means, says Shashi Tharoor

There is a need to reclaim Hinduism for its vision as a faith and social practice as it is often "distorted" for political means, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said. Participating in a conversation with author Namita Gokhale at the opening session of the ZEE Jaipur Literary festival, Tharoor said that caste is not intrinsic to Hinduism as a religion but is abominable and discriminating against people. 

Tharoor discussed the difference between the "vision" of Hinduism and the "social practice" of Hinduism, which he claimed is often "distorted" for political reasons. He urged people to stop seeking "spiritual sanction" for abominable behaviour, and pointed out that "everyone has the right to be angry if they have suffered discrimination. Those who haven't, have an obligation to help them get over that anger and be allowed to live decent human lives".

Cuba elects its first non-Castro president in 60 years: Miguel Diaz-Canel

Cuba is poised for the end of an era today as President Raul Castro steps down, formally handing power to his long-time deputy Miguel Diaz-Canel -- and thereby ending his family's six-decade grip on the island.

The silver-haired Diaz-Canel, 57 -- a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 -- will become the island's first leader born after the 1959 revolution and the first in 60 years who is not named Castro.

Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Raul, now 86, has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution.

Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency yesterday.

US should exclude EU from tariffs to defuse trade dispute: Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel today voiced concern over US President Donald Trump's decision to impose hefty tariffs on aluminium and steel imports, and called for talks to defuse the escalating row.
"We see with concern the tariff hikes for specific products," the leader of Europe's biggest economy said, adding that Germany backs the EU in "seeking dialogue with the United States, but also with countries that could be affected, like China."
She stressed that "no one can win in such a race to the bottom", adding that "it would be best if we could be exempted" from the tariffs.