impeachment trial: Rousseff defends record
Brasília: Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff has defended her record during her impeachment trial in the Senate. She is accused of illegally manipulating the budget to hide a growing deficit. Rousseff said her conscience was "absolutely clean" and that she had not committed any crime. Senators are due to vote later this week on whether to remove her from office for good or whether to reinstate her.
Roadside bombs kill nine in Afghanistan
Kabul: Two roadside bombs have killed at least nine Afghan civilians, officials said on Monday. Six people were killed in a blast in the southern Helmand province, which has seen heavy fighting between Taliban insurgents and security forces in recent weeks, according to Omer Zwak, the spokesman for the provincial governor.
Racism row over Sa school's hair policy
Johannesburg: A South African school was on Monday accused of racism for allegedly telling black girls to straighten their hair and not wear ‘afro' hairstyles. Pupils at Pretoria High School for Girls have said they were forced to chemically straighten their hair and not have afros that were deemed untidy. Over the weekend, students donning afro hairstyles and braids held a protest to voice anger against the rule.