International News Headlines

• New law sobers up drunk drivers in China

  Beijing (May 23) - The number of drunk driving cases in China has dropped by 40 percent over the last year after stricter punishment was imposed through an amended law, an official said.

• 220 rhinos killed in South Africa this year

  Johannesburg (May 23) - At least 220 endangered rhinos were killed by poachers for their horns in South Africa since the beginning of this year, authorities said.

• Egypt's presidential vote begins

  Cairo (May 23) - Egyptians went to polls Wednesday morning to elect their new president after last year's fall of Hosni Mubarak who had ruled for 30 years.

• Spain shelves tax case against banking magnate

  Madrid (May 23) - Emilio Botin, Spain's leading banker, will not face charges for tax evasion, the National Court decided after an 11-month-long investigation.

• Help artists in distress: Pakistani daily

  Islamabad (May 23) - A leading Pakistani daily has highlighted the plight of a Pakistani pop music pioneer and demanded that the government should disburse funds and lend support "in real terms" to artists in distress.

• American Sikhs hail India's Sikh marriage law

  Washington (May 23) - American Sikhs have hailed as "historic" the passage in the Indian parliament of Anand Marriage Act for the registration of Sikh marriages.

• Bilawal wants 50 percent women in Pakistani parliament

  Islamabad (May 23) - Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says that he dreams of a Pakistani parliament that will have 50 percent women, it was reported here.

• US Defence Secretary to visit India in June

  Washington (May 23) - Calling developing the US-India relationship as a priority for the United States, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta will travel to India in the first week of June, the Pentagon announced.

• Puerto Rican inmates sew `HeelCondoms'

  San Juan (May 23) - Inmates at Vega Alta women's prison in Puerto Rico are reducing their sentences thanks to their daily work of sewing "HeelCondoms", colourful and varied accessories that fit onto the heels of women's shoes.

• Obama, Romney tied in presidential race: Poll

  Washington (May 23) - Americans are split between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney less than six months before the presidential poll in November, according to two new polls.