Sydney Opera House limits use of selfie sticks

SYDNEY • Australia's Sydney Opera House has joined a growing list of cultural institutions cracking down on selfie sticks, the telescopic camera attachment that gives a wider view for "selfie" photographs.

Fairfax Media reported yesterday that although the Opera House encourages selfies outside the Sydney landmark, within the building's foyer and even inside auditoriums, during performance intervals, attendants will block use of a selfie stick that may extend over other concert goers.

XINHUA

Dalai Lama event draws cheers and protests

ANAHEIM (United States) • A three-day celebration marking the Dalai Lama's 80th birthday has drawn thousands of supporters - and some protesters - to Anaheim, California.

The Dalai Lama, who turned 80 yesterday, was the guest of honour at the Global Compassion Summit in Anaheim, south of Los Angeles, speaking on "awakening compassion" and the "transformative power of creativity and art".

Protests were staged outside by Shugden Buddhists, who revere a deity denounced since 1996 by the Dalai Lama - whom they accuse of religious persecution.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Saudi-led warplanes bomb Yemeni party HQ

SANAA • Saudi-led warplanes have bombed the Sanaa headquarters of the Yemeni party headed by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is allied to Shi'ite Huthi insurgents, the party said yesterday.

The overnight attack on the offices of the General People's Congress (GPC) caused "some deaths" among employees and guards of the building in the south of the capital, party official Faeqa al-Sayed said.

It came as some GPC members were meeting the United Nations' Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in another part of the city.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Hungary tightens law to restrict immigrants

BUDAPEST • Hungary's Parliament passed legislation yesterday that tightens its asylum rules, providing the legal framework for the erection of a fence along the country's southern border with Serbia to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.

The legislation shortens the timeframe for screening asylum claims and will allow Budapest to reject claims from immigrants who, on their journey from Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq, have passed through safe countries.

The United Nations and the Council of Europe have criticised the Bill, saying it would weaken refugee protection in Hungary.

REUTERS