24 hours: Nepalese women call for stronger laws against violence

Nepalese women take part in a protest against what they say is an increase in violence against women, and demanding the government to implement stronger laws and to take firm action against violence on women, outside the Prime Minister's official residence in Kathmandu on Jan 7, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

People skate on chained sleds on a frozen lake in Beijing on Jan 6, 2013. Temperatures in China have plunged to their lowest in almost three decades, official media said at the weekend. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol (left) of Spain reacts as he collides with Denver Nuggets' JaVale McGee during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on Jan 6, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Haitian residents who have been living and working undocumented in the Dominican Republic wait for Dominican immigration officials to allow them back into the Dominican Republic at the border at Haiti's town of Ouanaminthe on Jan 7, 2013. About 1,000 undocumented Haitians, who returned to their home country for the year-end holidays, were prevented from entering back into the Dominican Republic after the Dominican Army increased border control. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Lawyers loyal to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party clash with police during a strike in front of the Judge court in Dhaka on Jan 6, 2013. Bangladesh's opposition alliance, led by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, called for a dawn to dusk nationwide strike protesting against the latest hike in fuel oil prices effective from the end of Thursday, local media reported. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Goalkeeper Tim Howard of Everton catches a cross from Cheltenham Town during their FA Cup third round soccer match at the Abbey Business Stadium in Cheltenham on Jan 7, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Masked men, symbolising death, are seen as they perform Christmas carols, known locally as Kolyadki, in the central western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Jan 7, 2013. Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on Jan 7, according to the Julian calendar. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Servicemen of the Belarussian Interior Ministry's special unit queue up to kiss an Orthodox cross after a service at a military base in Minsk on Jan 7, 2013. Most Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan 7 according to the Julian calendar, two weeks after most western Christian churches that abide by the Gregorian calendar. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Former US Senator Chuck Hagel (right) walks past US President Barack Obama after Mr Obama announced the nomination of Mr Hagel to be his new Secretary of Defense at the White House in Washington on Jan 7, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Remains of campaign posters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are seen on a wall in Caracas on Jan 7, 2013. Chavez's formal swearing-in for a new six-year term scheduled for Jan 10 can be postponed if he is unable to attend due to his battle to recover from cancer surgery, Venezuela's vice president Nicolas Maduro said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A couple draped in Union flags sit at a bus shelter beside a police road block in Belfast City Centre, Belfast, on Jan 7, 2013. Violent protests flared in Northern Ireland as loyalists renewed their anger against restrictions on flying the Union flag from Belfast City Hall. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Surinamese Maroons, or descendants of runaway slaves who formed independent settlements, perform the fire dance on the first Sunday of the year during the annual celebration of Black People's Day in Paramaribo on Jan 6, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS