Contact is taking a holiday!

Contact is taking a break after 25 years of bringing you news of Tibet and Tibetan issues. We are celebrating our 25 years by bringing you the story of Contact and the people who have made it happen, and our archive is still there for you to access at any time, and below you can read the story of Contact, how it came into being and the wonderful reflections of the people who have made it happen over the years.

When and how Contact will re-emerge and evolve will be determined by those who become involved.

International Headlines

Nov 22: Argentina Election

Conservative opposition candidate Mauricio Macri has won Argentina’s presidential election with 52% of the vote, defeating Daniel Scioli. Macri has promised to tackle crime, fight corruption and to come up with business-friendly reforms to spur investment in the country’s struggling economy. Macri's win ends a political era dominated by Christina Kirchner and her late husband Nestor Kirchner.

Nov 21: Belgium Under Threat

Belgium's terrorist threat alert has been raised to level four, Belgium's highest level, for the first time. The threat is reported as “serious and imminent”. According to the Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis (OCAM) of Belgium, the threat requires specific security measures and recommendations for the population. OCAM has requested people to avoid crowded places, facilitate security checks and not to spread rumours.

Nov 20: Rs 1.27 Crore Salary

Chetan Kakkar from New Delhi has set a new record for an international placement for a student from Delhi Technology University (DTU), India. He has been offered a salary of Rs 1.27 crore by Google. Kakkar will be joining Google in Carlifornia after he completes his final year of study next year. The previous highest placement offer made for a DTU student was 93 lakh.

Nov 19: 100,000 Home Abortions

A new study found that at least 100,000 women in Texas have tried to end a pregnancy at their home without help from doctors. The number is expected to rise as a result of laws aimed at restricting abortions. Before the new restriction law was passed in 2013, there were 43 clinics that provide abortions, Texas now has 19.

Nov 18: Same-sex Marriage

Ireland has joined the growing list of nations where same-sex couples are getting married. The country's first same-sex wedding took place on Tuesday in Clonmel, County Tipperary where two men, Cormac Collogly and Richard Dowling became husbands. The Irish people legalised same-sex marriage with a national referendum in May. Ireland was the first country in the world to recognise the practice via a popular vote.

Nov 17: Face Transplant

Patrick Hardison, a volunteer firefighter in Mississippi lost his ears, lips, eyelids, nose and his hair while attempting to save a person trapped in a house which was in flames. New York University's Langone Medical Center announced that Hardisdon, now 41 had undergone the world’s most extensive face transplant to date. Hardison underwent more than 70 surgeries after the incident.

Nov 16: Nepal Blockade

Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged India to immediately lift the “undeclared blockade” to boost bilateral ties between the two countries. “The ongoing blockade is worse than the war-time situation,” he said. He confirmed that Nepal’s new Constitution was excellent and in line with the principles of charter of the United Nations and Panchsheel. However, India has firmly denied imposing blockade.

Nov 15: Artificial Kidney

Scientists have developed a new device, a coffee-cup-sized prototype of a surgically implantable artificial kidney which uses a silicon nanofilter. The device functions like a human kidney and can remove toxins, salts and other molecules from the blood. The new development could be a promising alternative to kidney transplantation or dialysis. It is designed to function with help of blood pressure and without electrical power.

Nov 13: Terror Attack in Paris

At least 129 people were killed and 352 injured in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris. Beginning at 21.16 hours CET, the terrorists carried out six mass shootings and three suicide bombings. The deadliest attack took place at the Batacian theatre where 89 people were killed. The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Nov 13: Dozens Killed

At least 37 people have been killed and 181 wounded in two suicide bomb attacks in a residential area of the Lebanese capital Beirut.The bombers blew themselves up in a busy street in the southern suburb of Burj al-Barajneh, a stronghold of the Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement. The Sunni jihadist group Islamic State claimed responsibility, but there has been no independent confirmation.

Nov 12: Putin Calls for Probe

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an investigation following allegations that the country’s athletes have been part of a systematic doping programme. The World Anti-Doping Agency independent commission has accused Russia of running a “state-supported” doping programme. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said earlier that Britain’s anti-doping system had “zero value” and was “even worse” than Russia’s.

Nov 11: Suu Kyi Wins Seat

Aung San Suu Kyi has won a seat in Myanmar's parliamentary elections. According to the latest numbers, her National League for Democracy Party has won 163 of the 182 seats declared so far in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the country's parliament. She will not be eligible to lead the government as she was married to a British man and her children are British.

Nov 10: Crocs on Guard

Indonesia is considering building an island prison guarded by crocodiles to house death-row drug convicts. The head of the anti-drugs agency said crocodiles can make better guards than humans, saying "You can't bribe crocodiles. You can't convince them to let inmates escape." Indonesia has some of the toughest drug laws in the world and ended a four-year moratorium on executions in 2013.

Nov 9: Historic Talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's democratically elected President Ma Ying-jeou met for talks in Singapore, the first talks in more than 60 years. Many people in Taiwan see Taiwan as independent whereas China views Taiwan as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland. There were protests in Taiwan, with people seeing closer links with China as a threat to their democracy.

Nov 8: Delegation to China

United States House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is leading a congressional delegation to China to discuss human rights, economic growth, national security and cyber security and the importance of bold action to reduce carbon pollution. Pelosi is outspoken on the issue of human rights and a supporter of the Tibetan cause. She said “Our Members will…seek to engage in constructive dialogue on human rights…and other…issues of concern.”