10 Countries With The Most Beautiful Women

by Wardah Hajra

 

We come across countless quotes saying that beauty lies within a person, it lies in the eyes of person looking at beauty. it is actually in the soul and so on. Yet we insist that beautiful are things that seem appealing to the eyes. Here is a list of  top 10 countries in the world which are said to have the most beautiful women. Let’s take a look:

These are 10 Countries With The Most Beautiful Women

10. Philippines

Liza Soberano – The Philippines Beauty.

The Philippines people are well known for their good attitude and sweetness but there is another side to this country. It has the most wins in the “Big Four International Beauty Pageants”. See the top 10 list of cutest Filipina female stars.

9. Britain

Helen Flanagan – The most beautiful British woman.

British women of today are a mix of different cultures which is why they come in various skin tones and looks. They are educated, well mannered and to top it all- beautiful. Checkout the list of 10 glamorous British women.

8. United States of America/Canada

Eugenie Bouchard – Hottest Canadian Tennis Player.

American women are fun, independent and they know how to take care of themselves. Out on the streets of Miami, NY and Los Angeles you will see many beautiful women who know how to care for themselves because of the advancements in science and technology. We will take Canadian and American women on the same level. Have a look at top ten hottest women in Canada.

7. Netherlands (Dutch Women)

Doutzen Kroes – The Most Beautiful Dutch Woman.

With an average height of 5’7” and blonde hair, Dutch woman deserve to be at the 7th place in the list of countries with the most beautiful women of the world. Checkout the list of Top 10 Places with the Most Beautiful Girls.

6. Italy

Most Beautiful Italian Model Cristina Chiabotto.

When you talk about classy beauties, you talk about Italian women who are up to date in fashion, style and makeup. Mostly brown-eyed, they know how to carry themselves. See also; 10 Hottest Italian Women.

5. Venezuela

Norelys Rodriguez – The Venezuelan Beauty.

Ladies from this country have the most crowns from international beauty contests and their tall, slim bodies always make it to the top contestants each year.

See also; Top 10 Most Beautiful Venezuelan Women.

4. Russia

Hottest Russian Model Irina Shayk.

Have you seen the Attorney General of Russia? That should give you an idea of the beauty in the country. Russian women possess a mix of western and eastern features in the form of high cheekbones, broad and tall bodies with blonde hair. See also; Top 10 Most Beautiful Russian Women.

3. Ukraine

Beautiful Ukrainian Woman Ani Lorak.

While Ukraine and Russia are essentially the same, we see that women of Ukraine are prettier than those from Russia. (Our bigger vote is still for their Attorney General though!) Checkout the list of Ukraine’s 10 most beautiful ladies.

2. Brazil

Adriana Lima – The Most Beautiful Brazilian women.

Brazilian women are known for their interest in socialization and tradition. Knowing how to carry themselves, they play a major role in the festivals that place in the country each year. The country holds the finest women of the world. See also; Top 10 Hottest Brazilian Women.

 

1. Turkey

Meryem Uzerli – The Sexiest Turkish Woman.

Turkey makes the top of our list when it comes to beautiful women and why shouldn’t it? They are photogenic with beautiful figures and carry themselves around with a grandeur that can only be linked to the kings and queens of the Turkish history. If you have a doubt, follow Turkish soaps and operas on TV!

World’s Top Most Beautiful Women of 2017

by Ejaz Khan

 

Who are the most beautiful women in the world right now? Who do you think deserves the title of most beautiful women of 2017? Here, below is a list of world’s most beautiful women. Beauty is the most debated topic in the world, and there is no ever clear winner. One who considered most beautiful at one time may lose her position at another time by someone else. Women normally have an attraction towards their physical characters like hotness and glamour. But, there are a few other factors like level of celebrity, confidence, intelligence, popularity, and skills too. It’s universal fact; beauty lies in the eyes of beholder. But when it comes to rank the beauty of a person, it is necessary to calculate the internal beauty as well as the external beauty. The external or physical beauty will age with time, all other factors remain ageless and keep person beautiful forever.
Here, we have made a ranking of most beautiful women of 2017. The women listed here are confident, intelligent, desirable, dynamic and are very dedicated to their job. Vote for your favorite lady, and be sure to add anyone who’s missing from the list.

Top 15 Most Beautiful Women of 2017

Once again here’s our selection, the most beautiful women of 2017. Vote! your favorite lady to make the ranking best ever. The selection includes only those women who’ve achieved a fair level of celebrity, based on glamour, popularity, confidence, intelligence, desirable and success ratios. But lists do have a way of inspiring debate. So let us know if we miss some one, go and make your own in the comments section below!

15. Indiana Evans – Australia

Indiana Evans – Australia

Born on July 27, 1990, this Australian actress and singer-songwriter voted as one of the most beautiful women of 2017. Best known for her roles as Bella Hartley in H2O: Just Add Water, and as Emmaline Robinson in Blue Lagoon: The Awakening.

14. Kate Upton – USA

Kate Upton – USA

Vivacious curves and stunning eyes, make her one of the most beautiful women in the world. This Sports Illustrated lady branded herself as a top modern fashion model in the industry. In addition, Upton sits high on many lists of Hottest and Sexiest women.

13. Irene Esser – Venezuela

Irene Esser – Venezuela

The glamorous lady, a Venezuelan actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder top the ranking. With curvaceous features and attractive body, Esser is considered to be one of the most beautiful women of 2017. Her natural beauty, pretty face, attractive figure and captivating personality make her extremely popular amongst her fan.

12. Eliza Taylor – Australia

Eliza Taylor – Australia

The 27-years-old Eliza Taylor hold the 12th position in our list. In addition, Taylor  best known for her role as Janae Timmins in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. And for her lead role as Clarke Griffin in The CW series The 100.

11. Elisha Cuthbert – Canada

Elisha Cuthbert – Canada

This 34-years-old Canadian actress and model comes at 11th position. Best known for playing Kim Bauer in the series 24. Darcie Goldberg in the college comedy Old School. Danielle in the teen comedy film The Girl Next Door. In addition, Maxim magazine named her “TV’s most beautiful woman“.

10. Mozhdah Jamalzadah – Afghanistan

Mozhdah Jamalzadah – Afghanistan

Trobriand Islands – A unique culture

by Paga Hill Media

                         

A 450km cluster of low-lying coral atolls off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG), but literally a world away from anything you’ve ever known are the Trobriand Islands. Consisting of four main islands, Kiriwina, Kaileuna, Vakuta and Kitava, the Trobriands remain one of the most culturally intact places in the world. As a visitor to the Islands you are bound to find it one of the most fascinating cultures as well.

 

The majority of the indigenous inhabitants call Kiriwina home. The Trobrianders or the Trobes as they are known locally inherited their name from Denis de Trobriand, the first lieutenant on D’Entrecasteaux’s expedition, the first European visitors to the Islands in 1793. Often referred to as the ‘Islands of love’, the people with their distinct Polynesian appearance are, to put it simply, beautiful. With a social structure based on strict matrilineal clans that control land and resources, there is no denying that it’s the females and their beliefs that are what draws so much curiosity about this culture. From as early as 13 and 14 year of age, children are encouraged to pursue potential partners and to change them frequently. This is not just a practice left to men, but women are equally as assertive in perusing or denying potential partners. The Islanders idyllic laid back culture could perhaps be attributed to their liberal views and encouragement of premarital sex. In fact, it is encouraged so much so that every village is the proud owner of a special hut known as a ‘bukumatula’ where unmarried teenagers retreat to make love.

 

When it comes to marriage, a relaxed but specific approach is taken. Before a Trobriand couple decide to marry, they will, not unlike many Western cultures, spend much time together. However, there is no expensive, fancy wedding, but rather a gift is offered and accepted by the parents of the prospective girl and rather than the girl leaving the boy’s house before sunrise after a night together, she stays. In the morning, the parents of the girl will bring a feast of cooked yams and when the couple eat together, the marriage is consummated. Over the course of the next year, the married couple will continue to eat together before returning to eating separately. Despite a widespread knowledge of reproduction and modern medicine, the traditional belief surrounding pregnancy remarkably still holds true to most Trobriand Islanders. It is believed that in order to fall pregnant an ancestral spirit known as a ‘Baloma’ must enter the woman’s body, while the man’s job is to simply open the woman up to pregnancy. Once the baby is born, the mother’s brother presents a harvest of yams to his sister to ensure that the baby will be fed from food from its own matrilineage.

                                     

 

Yams play a significant role in the culture of the Trobriand Islands. Used predominantly as currency, they signify wealth and power. In all of the Trobriand major life events, birth, marriage, death and even divorce, yams are the common denominator. Not surprisingly, the yam is also the staple food. The illustrious yam has certainly been placed on a pedestal, high above any other vegetable grown on the island. So much so, that every year from June to August the Milamala Yam harvest festival is held. The festival begins with a parade of men carrying the newly harvested yams from the garden storage hut to the village yam houses. While this takes place the women go on ahead and festively dance and sing. During the festival, traditional rites are observed and festival goers don their best traditional attire.

                                              

 

Although culturally significant, it’s not all about marriage and yams on this peace-loving Island and visitors will find much to keep them occupied. One such attraction is Kalopa Cave at the northern tip of Kiriwina, about 1 1/2 hours walk from Kaibola Village. Here you will find several deep limestone caves which are home to antiquities and skeletal remains. Omarakana is another place worth noting as this is where the island’s supreme Chief resides. About halfway between Losuia and Kaibola you will find the Chief’s residence – a large intricately painted yam house on stilts. He is often found sitting under his house surrounded by his clansman. His role includes reigning over the island’s oral and magic traditions as well as the all-important yam festival. While it is possible to pay the Chief a visit, it’s culturally appropriate to keep your head lower than his and a small gift certainly won’t go astray. Trobriand Islands are well known for their exquisite carvings made from local timbers including the much sought after ebony. There are also war relics, stretches of white sandy beaches and coral filled offshore islands to keep you busy during your stay on the Islands.

 

Any place where the locals settle minor conflicts with a good game of unisex cricket and continue to live an idyllic traditional lifestyle has our vote. One way to experience the Islands is aboard a Cruise Liner such as P&O Cruises which sail regularly from Australia.  At Paga Hill we believe the Trobriand Islands to be one of the most charming places in PNG in which to enjoy the fun-loving and peaceful culture of Milne Bay Province.

 

Paga Hill Estate is a world class master planned estate in the heart of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The waterfront site is the first comprehensively planned multi-use development in Papua New Guinea to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike. The all inclusive development will include vibrant public spaces and waterfront promenade, luxury hotels, residential apartments, restaurants, retail, commercial space, a National Cultural Centre, restoration of WWII relics, marina precinct and an international cruise liner terminal.

Visit Paga Hill Estate for more information including the latest artistic impressions of the development.

Egyptian rights activist Azza Soliman arrested

#EgyptTurmoil

 

Soliman's arrest comes as Egyptian human rights activists say they are being subjected to the worst government clamp down ever

Egyptian police arrested prominent women's rights advocate Azza Soliman on Wednesday, her foundation and a security source said, weeks after she was banned from travel and had her assets frozen.

Soliman, founder of the Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA), was one of a number of activists, lawyers and journalists prevented from leaving Egypt in the last month.
Soliman had also been a witness to the killing of rights activist Shaimaa Sabagh during a 2015 march.
The rights lawyer told Reuters last week that she was turned back on 19 November at Cairo airport. Soon after, Soliman discovered that her personal assets and those of her group had been frozen.
"The investigative judge has issued an arrest warrant against Azza Soliman," CEWLA said in a tweet, adding that security forces had gone to Soliman's house and taken her away to a Cairo police station.
Soliman was accused of "obtaining money from abroad to harm national interests and forming an entity that carries out NGO work," lawyer Mahmoud Belal wrote on Twitter.
Another lawyer, Taher Abul Nasr, told AFP she was later released after posting a bail of about $1,100.
                                             

'Worrying escalation'

The news elicted a strong reaciton from human rights organisations. 
The arrest of Soliman was “a clear sign that Egyptian authorities are intensifying the crackown on human rights activists”, said Amnesty International in a statement on Wednesday.
“Azza Soliman’s arrest is the latest chilling example of the Egyptian authorities’ systematic persecution of independent human rights defenders," said Najia Bounaim, deputy director for campaigns at Amnesty International’s Tunis Regional office.
"We believe she has been arrested for her legitimate human rights work and must be released immediately and unconditionally. The intimidation and harrassment of human rights activists has to stop,” added Bounaim.

Soliman's arrest comes Egyptian human rights activists say they are being subjected to the worst government clamp down ever, targeting organizations accused of fomenting unrest during the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.
Several non-governmental organisations, most involved in rights work, are embroiled in a long-running investigation, accused of receiving foreign funds to sow chaos.
The Egyptian ministry of interior issued on Wednesday a security alert to prevent the "escape" of 60 defendants accused of being involved in the case, while an Egyptian rights lawyer said Soliman's arrest warrant had been issued by the judge who is presiding over that case.
In September, a court froze the assets of five prominent human rights activists and three NGOs, paving the way to criminal proceedings that could lead to life sentences.
NGOs say they have felt exposed since late 2011, when authorities raided 17 pro-democracy and rights groups.

In 2013, a court ordered the closure of several foreign groups, including US-based Freedom House, and gave jail sentences to 43 NGO staff including 15 Americans who fled.
A case against dozens of Egyptian NGOs and lawyers was never closed but remained largely dormant until this year. It was not clear if Soliman had been detained in connection with this case.
In November, parliament passed a law to regulate NGOs, which human rights groups say effectively bans their work and makes it harder for development groups and charities to operate.
The bill bans domestic and foreign groups from engaging in political activities or anything that harms national security, public order, public morals or public health - a means, critics say, to stifle dissent.

TRAGEDY ON BENI RESIDENTS IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO


 Since 2014, residents of Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have lived under unexplained vicious attacks. Houses have been burned down, hundreds of civilians have been killed and the bodies of young children and women have been mutilated by armed groups. Yet there’s no global outrage about this tragedy.

Add your voice now, to end these killings.

So far, at least 682 have been killed in Beni under the nose of the DRC’s army, the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) as well as UN forces in the region.

Reports from the UN Group of Experts have pointed to a complex situation with multiple perpetrators and accomplices. These reports have also alleged the involvement of some FARDC soldiers in the killings.

Despite multiple attacks, the Congolese government has—appallingly—not yet conducted an independent investigation to find ways to protect civilians and provided justice to victims.

The people of Beni live under constant fear - fear of an attack, fear of speaking out on what they have witnessed and fear of reprisals if they denounce those suspected of the killings or their accomplices.

Please call on the Government of the DRC and the UN to take all steps necessary to protect civilians in Beni and bring justice to victims.

Let’s make sure that the world finally starts to pay attention to this tragedy.

              

The 32th Harbin Ice and Snow Festival 2016

IN CHINA

   By- Harbin Ice.



                    

                    
                    
The 32nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival opens with a theme "Pearl on the Crown of Ice & Snow" on January 5 in 2016. The festival is featured by 5 category ice snow events & activities of tourism, culture, fashion, trade and sports. It consists of four theme parks: Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, Harbin Ice and Snow World, Songhua River Ice and Snow Harbin Valley, and the Zhaolin Park Ice Lantern Fair. As well as some new programs at Volgar Mannor and Ying Jie Scenenic Area.

17th Harbin Ice and Snow World is themed as "Ice Sets Silk Road, Snow Shines Dragon River"

28th International Snow Sculpture Art Expo is themed as "Meet at Snow Expo, Dream Back to Harbin"

42th Harbin Ice Lantern Art Fair is themed as "Ice Lantern Date, Ice City Impression

More information below will follow the festival to update in time.

Introduction of Event & Activity	Date	Venue
42th Harbin Ice Lantern Art Fair	Dec 22, 2015 - Feb, 2016	Zhaolin Park
28th International Snow Sculpture Art Expo	Dec 22, 2015 - Feb, 2016	Sun Island
17th Harbin Ice and Snow World	Dec 22, 2015 - Feb, 2016	Ice and Snow World
30th Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition	Jan 6-8, 2016	Zhaolin Park
21th Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition	Jan 4-6, 2016	Sun Island
8th International University Students Snow Sculpture Competition	Jan 4-7, 2016	Harbin Engineering University
22th National Snow Sculpture Competition	Dec 17-20, 2015	Sun Island
32th Ice Festival City Circuit Procession	Jan 5, 2016	Harbin Expo Center to Ice Snow World
32th Harbin Ice Festival Opening	Jan 5, 2016	Harbin Expo Center
32th Harbin Ice Snow Group Wedding Ceremony	Jan 5, 2016	Sun Island
2016 New Year Concert	Dec 31, 2015	Harbin City Concert Hall
2016 Internatinal Children Art Variety Tournament	Jan 5-10, 2016	Harbin Youth Theater
18th International Skiing Festival Opening	Dec 20, 2015	Yabuli Ski Resort
2016 Interantional Winter Swimming Game	Jan 1-5, 2016	Harbin Ice Festival Swimming Venue
Songhua River Ice Snow Happy Valley	Jan 1- Feb.5, 2016	Songhua River
31th Harbin Ice Festival International Trade Fair	Jan 5- 8, 2016	Harbin Expo Center
5th Central Street Ice Sculpture Art and Culture Festival	Dec 25, 2014-Feb, 2016	Central Street

                        Songkran Festival

The Origins of the Songkran Festival
by- Chiang Mai University Graduate School

       The Astrological New Year and the Thai Lunar Calender Thailand's Songkran Festival is by far the most important event of the year for the Thai people. It's a time of fun and a special time for new year ritual and respect for water, the most important element in the agricultural culture of Southeast Asia. Songkran falls in mid-April every year and has its origins in ancient astrology and the position of the sun. The term Songkran itself means, ''a move or change in the position of the sun from Aries to Taurus,'' it falls sometime between April 10 and April 18 and in Thai tradition it includes the celebration of the end of one year -- 'Troot' -- and the beginning of a new year - 'Songkran'. The phases of the moon and the lunar calendar also play an important role in determining the Thai New Year. Thus, the Thai New Year is a product of astrological as well as lunar features according, to the old Thai lunar calendar.

       Today, the official Thai New Year falls in the fifth month of the Thai lunar year. As we will see, at one time in the past it was celebrated in the first lunar month. The reasons for the many factors that determine the timing of Songkran, as well as the reasons for the change from the first lunar month to the fifth lunar month, are partially found in the origins of the Tai peoples in southern China, to their culture of rice farming throughout the ages, and to their adherence to a Buddhist philosophy which incorporates a large degree of astrological belief from ancient Hindu culture. These features as well as the Thai systems of days, dates, months and seasons are the subject of this article, and it is hoped that from these readers will gain a deeper appreciation for the underlying significance of the Thai New Year.

THAI ORIGINS AND THE THAI NEW YEAR
       The Tais migrated southward into Thailand from their farming, areas of southern China long ago. With them they brought their culture, customs and beliefs which were based on a combination of Chinese models and local climatic features of crop sowing, and harvest times. The calendar was lunar and based on the farming cycle of their area, which began in the first lunar month of Deuan Ai (late November - early December: See Chart 1: Months of the Thai Lunar Calendar) and ended in the twelfth lunar month of Deuan Sib Sorng (late October - early November).After migrating southward to the more tropical climate of Thailand and adapting to new cultures already in the area as well as somewhat different weather patterns, a change took place and the flew Year eventually came to be celebrated in April.

BUDDHISM AND THE THAI NEW YEAR
       Buddhism has a relation to both the astrological and lunar features of the Thai calendar. Having originated in northern India, in a Hindu setting Buddhism often carried with it astrological ritual features from Brahman India. In addition, as Buddhism easily accommodated many other beliefs, such as the Tai animism, it was early adopted by the Tais of southern China long before the founding of Thailand. Many old temple structures built by Tai kings had an astrological base in terms of design and construction and these were built to represent the universe and its astronomical bodies. The aspect of the position of the sun and its movement from Aries into Taurus would have become important to the Thais in later years because of the emphasis placed on auspicious movements of heavenly bodies, and it would have become even more important to the Thais because of the importance placed on the Thai 12-year cycle in conjunction with the 12 astrological signs of the zodiac.


       Another aspect of Buddhism as it evolved in Southeast Asia relates to the lunar feature of the Thai calendar and the Thai New Year. In Buddhism, the phases of the moon are extremely important as indicators of auspicious days of each month for Buddhist holy days. These auspicious days always fall on one of the four following moon-days: the 8th day of a Waxing moon (Keun 8 Kumm), the 15th day of a waxing moon (Keun 15 Kumm), the 8th day of a waning moon (Raem 8 Kumm), or the 15th day of a waning moon (Raem 15 Kumm). Chart 3, Phases of the moon for each Thai month shows the waxing, and waning moon for every day of the year by the month and the total number of days in each month.

       This chart of moon phases is taken from the ancient Siamese calendar. Above, in reference to Buddhist holy days, and on the chart in far right column, top, the word 'Kumm' is used and means 'night'. This is a unique feature of Siamese calendar date reckoning where the ancients used the term night instead of 'day' because night is when we can see the moon. Taking the lunar feature even further, because it is of such importance in Thai reckoning there is a special form for providing the date and day in the Thai lunar style.
Buddhism clearly plays an important role in the astrological and lunar features of the Thai calendar and the Thai New Year, but the basis of the old lunar calendar of Siam is believed to have been a agriculture and the annual growing season.

SIAM'S OLD LUNAR CALENDER

       In the days prior to the formation of the first Thai kingdom of Siam, in central Thailand, that rich agricultural area was ruled and managed first by the Mon Dvaravati Kingdom (5th to 9th centuries) and then by the Khmer Angkor Kingdom (10th to 12th centuries). The Mons and the Khmers were both highly skilled agriculturalists and developed advanced irrigation and rice farming systems by making use of the Chao Phraya River. When the Tais assumed control of the area in the 13th century, they adopted the Mon-Khmer systems. This highly skilled agricultural culture, which became strongly attached to Buddhism, was a society based almost entirely on these two features, and that combination has been passed on to many Thai countryside areas of today.

      Again referring Months of the Thai Lunar Calendar, we see that in the old calendar, which was based on the growing seasons, the first lunar month occurred sometime between late November and early December. From this we can assume that at that time either weather patterns were quite different from those of today or the peoples of old designated the New Year as the time of the rice harvest rather than a new growing season. Today in many of the rural villages of Thailand, farmers continue to celebrate their New Year according to the old calendar, that is, at the end of November, despite the fact that the New Year is now in April, which is in the 5th lunar month of the old calendar.

       Phases of the Moon and Date & Day, according to the old lunar calendar -- shows how the old lunar dates for Thai New Year are reconciled with the contemporary western calendar dates. The first two days together make up what is called the 'Troot Festival', where 'Troot' has a double meaning :'the end of something combined with the beginning of something new'. The larger Songkran Festival as it is celebrated today is comprised of four days. The first two are the 'Troot Festival', and the second two immediately follow and are a time for relaxation and merriment after attending to family and religious duties.

‘Child Bride’ Senator Forces Senate to Back Underage Marriage in Nigeria

SENATOR Sani Yerima of Zamfara State, whose who brought home a 13-year-old Egyptian girl

as bride in 2009 literally strong-armed his colleagues in the Nigerian Senate to reverse a vote that appeared to outlaw underage marriage in Nigeria on Tuesday, almost marring a crucial constitution amendment vote in the process.

 

 

 Mr. Yerima contested and won the reversal despite a senate policy barring repeat votes on clauses, arguing that an earlier decision was un-Islamic and biased.
The contentious provision, Section 29, allows citizens who are of age to renounce Nigerian citizenship if they wish. For that purpose, the constitution says, 18-year-olds and above shall be considered to be "of age".

In addition, a woman or girl who is married, shall also be considered to be of age-a section that could be interpreted to imply that even a day old child, once married, shall be considered to be of age.
The senate's amendment committee had proposed that definition be deleted. At first voting Tuesday, Senators overwhelmingly backed the recommendation that it be removed, leaving the prospect of final passage if accepted by the House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly.
But late into vote of dozens of clauses, while other Senators intermittently contested matters such as health, single election term and the separation of the offices of the Minister of Justice from the Attorney General, Mr. Yerima questioned why the section dealing with age of a married woman was deleted, describing the move as un-Islamic.

He demanded a revisit, a call that was turned down by Senate president, David Mark. Mr. Mark ruled that as a member of the constitution review committee, Mr. Yerima had every opportunity to have sought for a review and was against the chamber's rule in seeking an amendment while the votes were on.

Mr. Yerima, backed by Danjuma Goje, former Gombe State Governor and current Senator, insisted that under Islamic tenet, a woman is of age once married and countering that order as already stated in the constitution would be discriminatory and in violation of another section of the constitution directing the National Assembly to steer away from Islamic marriage.

"The constitution says the National Assembly shall legislate on marriage except those under Islamic rites," said Yerima, who is also a former governor  of Zamfara State,whose marriage to the teenager, triggered months of controversy. "Islam says once a woman is married, she is of age."
Mr. Mark however conceded to a second vote after other proposed amendments had been concluded, saying he had to act due to the "sensitivity" of the matter as it concerns religion.
Still, Mr. Yerima's demand was again thrashed 60 to 35 at a repeat vote but the section could not be deleted as constitution amendments require two thirds of the entire members-73 for the Senate- for a proposal to pass.

 ANNUAL WORLD POPULAR EVENTS

Oktoberfest GERMANY

September

Oktoberfest is a 16-18 day festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. 

2. New Orleans Mardi Gras LOUISIANA

Day before Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent)

"Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday in English) in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world. The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany (January 6). 

 

3. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival CALIFORNIA

Third weekend or last week of April

"The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella or Coachella Festival) is a three-day (formerly a one or two-day) annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice (a subsidiary of AEG Live) and held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley. 

 

4. Glastonbury Festival ENGLAND

Last weekend in June

"The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or Glasto, is the largest green field open-air music and performing arts festival in the world. The festival is best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other arts. For 2005, the enclosed area of the festival was over 900 acres (3.6 km²), had over 385 live performances and was attended by around 150,000 people."

5. Burning Man NEVADA

Monday before American Labor Day

"Burning Man is an annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event starts on the Monday before and ends on the day of the American Labor Day holiday. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening. 

 

6. Rio Carnival‎ BRAZIL

Seven Sundays before the Sunday of Easter

The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.

7. Wimbledon ENGLAND

June

"The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is considered the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in the London suburb of Wimbledon since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and the only one still played on the game's original surface, grass, which gave the game of lawn tennis its name."

8. SXSW TEXAS

March

"South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of film, interactive and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States. SXSW first began in 1987 and is centered on the downtown Austin Convention Center. Each of the three parts runs relatively independently, with different start and end dates."

9. St. Patrick's Day

March 17

"Saint Patrick's Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick") is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church."

10. Super Bowl UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February

"The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the premier association of professional American football. It was first played on January 15, 1967, as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then-rival league, the American Football League (AFL). It was agreed that the two leagues' champion teams would play in an AFL–NFL World Championship Game until the merger was consummated in 1970."

11. Sydney New Year's Eve AUSTRALIA

December 31

Sydney New Year's Eve is an annual multi-tiered event held every New Year's Eve over Sydney Harbour, centering on the Harbour Bridge. Its main features are the two pyrotechnic displays, the 9pm Family Fireworks and the Midnight Fireworks, both of which are televised nationally by current broadcaster the Nine Network. Each year the event takes on a new theme and is regularly viewed by more than one million people at the harbour and one billion worldwide for the televised Midnight Fireworks.

12. Edinburgh Fringe Festival SCOTLAND

August

For over 50 years Scotland's capital city has seen a unique explosion of creative energy within the Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world.

13. London Fashion Week ENGLAND

February and September

London Fashion Week is an apparel trade show held in London, England twice each year, in February and September. It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, along with New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.

14. Toronto International Film Festival CANADA

September

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is a publicly attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

15. Holi Festival INDIA, NEPAL, SRI LANKA

February–March

"Holi, or Holli, is a spring festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations, such as Suriname, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji. In West Bengal and Orissa of India it is known as Dolyatra (Doul Jatra) or Basanta-Utsav ("spring festival")."

16. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta NEW MEXICO

October

"The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly festival of hot air balloons that takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA during early October. The balloon fiesta is a nine day event, and has around 750 balloons. The event is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world."

17. New Orleans Jazz Festival LOUISIANA

Last weekend of April and first weekend of May

"The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. Use of the term "Jazz Fest" can also include the days surrounding the Festival and the many shows at unaffiliated New Orleans nightclubs scheduled during the Festival event weekends."

18. Bonnaroo TENNESSEE

June

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment. It was first held in 2002. The festival is held at Great Stage Park on a 700-acre (2.8 km²) farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Nashville, Tennessee, and 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

19. Day of the Dead MEXICO

October 31

Celebrated in May every year, Day of the Dead focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday, and all banks are closed.

20. La Tomatina Festival SPAIN

Last Wednesday of August

"La Tomatina is a festival that is held in the Valencian town of Buñol, a town located 30 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea in which participants throw tomatoes and get involved in this tomato fight purely for fun. It is held on the last Wednesday of August, during the week of festivities of Buñol."

21. Sundance Film Festival UTAH

January

"The Sundance Film Festival is an American film festival that takes place annually in Utah. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new work from American and international independent filmmakers."

22. Melbourne Comedy Festival AUSTRALIA

April

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. It is generally regarded as the least commercial and most relaxed of the three major comedy festivals. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day (1 April).

23. Venice Carnival ITALY

Starts forty days before Easter

The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy. The Carnival starts forty days before Easter and ends on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Martedì Grasso), the day before Ash Wednesday. "Dov'e il gabinetto!" In other words, "At a carnival, every joke is disgraced!"

24. Amsterdam Gay Pride NETHERLANDS

First weekend of August

"The Amsterdam Pride is an annual gay festival in the centre of Amsterdam, organized in the first weekend of August. With several hundreds of thousands visitors this event is one of the largest public events of the Netherlands. The pride is organized since 1996. The peak of the festival is during the canal parade, a parade of boats of large variety on the first Saturday of August, which usually goes from Westerdok over the Prinsengracht, Amstel river, Zwanenburgwal and Oudeschans to Oosterdok."

25. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ALASKA

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race run in early March from Anchorage to Nome. Mushers and a team of 16 dogs, of which at least 6 must be on the towline at the finish line, cover the distance in 9–15 days or more. The Iditarod began in 1973 as an event to test the best sled dog mushers and teams but evolved into today's highly competitive race. The current fastest winning time record was set in 2011 by John Baker with a time of 8 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes, and 39 seconds.

26. Indianapolis 500 INDIANA

Last weekend in May

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The event lends its name to the IndyCar class, or formula, of open-wheel race cars that have competed in it. The event, billed as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, is considered one of the three most significant motorsports events in the world.

27. Austin City Limits TEXAS

October

"The Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Festival) is an annual three-day music festival in Austin, Texas' Zilker Park. The Festival brings together more than 130 bands on eight stages playing rock, country, folk, indie, Americana, hip-hop, reggae, electronic, and bluegrass. Over 65,000 visitors are attracted to the event each day. Named after the legendary PBS concert series, the festival is produced by C3 Presents, who also co-produce the Lollapalooza festival."

28. Koningsdag (King's day) in the Netherlands NETHERLANDS

April 27

Koninginnedag or King's Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Celebrated on 27 April (the 26th if the 27th falls on a Sunday), the date marks the birth of King Willem-Alexander. Koningsdag is known for its nationwide vrijmarkt ("free market"), at which many Dutch sell their secondhand items. It is also an opportunity for "orange madness" or oranjegekte, for the national colour, when the normally strait-laced Dutch let down their hair, often dyed orange for the occasion.

29. Cosplay Festival JAPAN

First weekend of August

World Cosplay Summit, also known as WCS, is an annual international cosplay event that promotes friendly international exchange through Japanese pop culture. The WCS is organized by the events division of TV Aichi and has the active support of local volunteers, city organizations and businesses. The parade and championship are held in Nagoya, Japan with several related events being held in the Kanto, Kansai and Tokai areas.

30. Frankfurt Book Fair GERMANY

October

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented, as well as the number of visitors. It is held annually in mid-October at the Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany. The first three days are restricted exclusively to trade visitors; the general public can attend on the last two.

31. Oxford Literary Festival ENGLAND

March

The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival is an annual literary festival where visitors can meet and listen to authors and experts from a wide range of fields discussing a variety of topics from literature, politics, history, philosophy, economics, science, culinary, travel, environment and religion, to mention only a few.

32. Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival SOUTH KOREA

April

If you can’t get enough of the fluffy pink flowers, then Yeouido is the place for you. From Friday, April 12 until Thursday, April 18, the 2013 Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival (also known as the Spring Flower Festival) will be happening on the island in Seoul’s city center. While it may not be the most peaceful place in the city for a stroll under a canopy of cherry blossoms, it’s hard to deny that beauty of the trees flanking the Han River and the National Assembly building.

33. New York Fashion Week NEW YORK

February and September

The semi-annual New York Fashion Week, branded Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek in 2009, is held in February and September of each year in New York City. It is one of four major fashion weeks held around the world.

34. Summerfest WISCONSIN

June

Summerfest (also known as "The Big Gig") is a yearly music festival held at the 75-acre Henry Maier Festival Park along the lakefront in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The festival lasts for 11 days, is made up of 11 stages with performances from over 700 bands, and since the mid-1970s has run from late June through early July, always including the 4th of July holiday.

35. August Moon Festival GREECE

Late September or early October

"August is the month when Athens is full of cheers. Of the festivities of Athens in the month of August, the Full Moon festival holds a special attraction. During this festival, both locales and tourists are allowed free entry to the city’s major monuments, museums and archaeological sites."

36. Werchter Rock Festival BELGIUM

July

Rock Werchter is a Belgian annual music festival held in the village of Werchter, near Leuven, since 1973. It is one of the five biggest annual rock music festivals in Europe. The 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 festivals received the Arthur award for best festival in the world at the International Live Music Conference (ILMC). It can host 80,000 guests, of which 69,000 combine all four days, to add up to a total maximum of 113,000 different attendees.

37. Running of the Bulls at the Festival of San Fermin SPAIN

The Running of the Bulls is a practice that involves running in front of a small group of cattle, typically six, of the toro bravo breed that have been let loose on a course of a sectioned-off subset of a town's streets. The most famous running of the bulls is that of the eight-day festival of Sanfermines in honour of Saint Fermin in Pamplona, although they are also traditionally held in other places such as towns and villages across Spain, Portugal, in some cities in Mexico, and southern France during the summer.

38. Grand National UNITED KINGDOM

April

The Grand National is a world famous National Hunt horse race which is held at Aintree in the United Kingdom. It is a handicap chase containing thirty fences which is run over a distance of 4 miles and 856 yards (7,242 m). It is presently scheduled to take place each year on a Saturday afternoon in early April. It is the most valuable National Hunt event in Great Britain, and in 2010 it offered a total prize fund of £925,000.

39. Verona in Love festival ITALY

February 14

The Verona in Love festival is dedicated to all those lovebirds who flock to Verona on Valentine's Day. Thousands of hearts, lights, and other red-tinted decorations line the streets while exhibitions, activities, concerts, food, and aphrodisiacs are all available for your enjoyment.

40. BFI London Film Festival UNITED KINGDOM

October

The BFI London Film Festival (also known as just the London Film Festival) is the UK's largest public film event, screening more than 300 features, documentaries and shorts from almost 50 countries. The festival, (the LFF), currently in its 55th year, is run every year in the second half of October under the umbrella of the British Film Institute.

41. Gilroy Garlic Festival CALIFORNIA

July

The Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of the largest food festivals in the United States, held annually in Gilroy, California on the last full weekend in July at Christmas Hill Park.

42. Attend the 24 Hours of Le Mans FRANCE

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance, it is organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and runs on a circuit containing closed public roads that are meant not only to test a car and driver's ability to be quick, but also to last over a 24 hour period.

43. Parade of Saint Nicholas NETHERLANDS

December

St Nicholas Festival was founded to increase awareness of the life, history and traditions relating to St Nicholas and to raise money in aid of organisations and charities that benefit young people, both locally and further afield. Since its registration as a charity in 2005 St Nicholas Festival has raised over £51,000 and given grants to twenty-one different children’s organisations and charities. Each year the Trustees nominate the organisations to benefit from their fundraising but they also give small emergency grants when disaster strikes.

44. Sant Jordi Festival Barcelona SPAIN

April 23

Sant Jordi, or St George, is the patron saint of Catalonia (and England and about ten other countries and regions). But St George's Day in Barcelona is also the city's version of Valentine's Day, when romance sweeps the city, and lovers swap books and roses.

45. Bordeaux Wine Festival FRANCE

June

This festival, organised by the town of Bordeaux, is an opportunity for fans of fine wine, good food and culture to enjoy a great festive moment. It will be a celebration of the senses on the largest square in Europe, right on the banks of the Garonne. The riverbanks and the Esplanade des Quinconces will welcome more than 300 000 gastronomers and culture-vultures throughout this four-day event.

46. Berlin Love Parade GERMANY

July

The Love Parade was a popular electronic dance music festival and parade that originated in 1989 in West Berlin, Germany. It has been held annually in Germany 1989-2003 in Berlin, then again in 2006 in Berlin and from 2007 to 2010 in the Ruhr region. The 2004 and 2005 events in Berlin and the 2009 event in Bochum were cancelled. On 24 July 2010, a crowd rush at the Love Parade caused the death of 21 people, with at least 500 others injured.

47. Deventer Book Fair NETHERLANDS

August

Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In August, Deventer is home to Europe's largest book fair, attracting some 125,000 visitors.

48. Salvador de Bahia Carnival

February

Bahian Carnival is a popular street event in the Brazilian state of Bahia. It began to evolve from the gap between social classes - street carnaval vs. private clubs - resulting in an inversion of the social order, a utopic celebration of equality in which the social divide is temporarily suspended.

49. Professional Bull Riders World Finals NEVADA

October

The PBR's premier tour, the Built Ford Tough Series (formerly the Bud Light Cup Series), includes at most 30 events across the United States every year. Pyrotechnics, pulsating music and special effects open each event, and each features the top 35 riders in the world at the time. The season culminates in Las Vegas, where the PBR World Finals are held.

50. Berlin Film Festival GERMANY

February

The Berlin International Film Festival (German: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951 at the initiative of U.S. Film officer Oscar Martay, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978. With 274,000 tickets sold and 487,000 admissions it is considered the largest publicly attended film festival worldwide.