Women rappers in Nepal are causing a stir. These young women use a mix of English and Nepalese to woo their fans. Women in Bangladesh have been severely affected by the latest spate of strikes . Read more to know the latest in women’s news.

It’s Christmas time, but slowly I’m beginning to think that it’s that time of the year when some men’s “desire to rape and molest” goes into overdrive. The question I’m asking myself now is, are rapes and protests against rape going to become a national pastime for us Indians?

Once again, the Indian media is abuzz with the reports of a sexual assault. Only this time around, is not a “migrant” worker who can be pinned down as a rapist because he didn’t know any better in a city full of “loose” women. This time it is someone from our own fraternity: Tarun Tejpal. He is the editor-in-chief and founder of Tehelka (literally meaning storm), an independent website known for its sting operations that have uncovered several scams and shaken governments in the past. “Free, fair, fearless” is the motto of the publication.

“The first marriage is practice.” This statement from a novel I read some time back left an indelible mark in my brain, especially since I’ve been through a divorce myself. Or let’s say, I’ve had some “practice” and that’s why this Indian advertisement struck a cord with me.

Pakistani teenager Malala is honoured with the Sakharov prize. In a speech to Indian students, US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell reveals why American students don’t want to come to India. 13-year-old Sushma Verma is from a very poor family, but she’s managed to get into university by doing exceedingly well in her studies! Read more to find out the latest in women’s news from around the world.

With more and more celebrities from the Indian Bollywood industry approaching surrogate mothers to bear a baby, the demand for surrogacy is rising. However, there are hardly any laws to protect the well-being of surrogate mothers. Women Talk Online blogger Debarati Mukherjee looks into the issue.

The US military will allow women to serve in the frontline, a photojournalist decides to spend her time in Nepal, friends of Malala in Pakistan secretly pray that she wins the Nobel prize. Read on to find out more on women’s issues.