Thousands gather to take an icy dip in the Ganges River during festivals aimed at cleansing sin.

Authorities have urged people to avoid dirtying the Ganges - India's most sacred river, yet one of its most heavily polluted.

Musician finds relief after undergoing life-threatening surgery to remove a brain tumour, which doctors believe had been causing the problem.

Taliban fighters have developed a deadly new generation of their most lethal weapon, the improvised explosive device, or IED, which is almost undetectable because it has no metal or electronic parts, military experts said last week.

The NZ anti-whaling vessel half-destroyed when it and a Japanese whaling harpoon ship collided is too damaged to be salvaged.

Sky Television confirmed today that it has bought TVNZ's broadcast rights for this year's Commonwealth Games in India

Following the marriage of President Jacob Zuma to his fifth wife, the Independent looks at the arguments for and against polygamy.