Armed men attacked staff protecting a vaccination team in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. A third officer is reported to have been injured. An investigation has been launched to identify those responsible, who remain unknown at present. New cases of polio; a critical phase for the eradication programme.
A watchdog reports the disruption of a social media event by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A Supreme Court ruling earlier this month is forcing PTI candidates to run as independents after the party’s symbol was banned. Journalists have been told to avoid references to the former prime minister, to the advantage of Nawaz Sharif, experts say.
Opposition parliamentarians, human rights groups and journalists' associations say the rule, passed in just 24 hours by parliament, risks stifling any kind of free debate before the next presidential and parliamentary elections that will be held by the end of 2024.
Today's news: India won't withdraw troops from the Maldives, after archipelago's president seeks relations with Beijing; Seoul court approves seizure of funds from a Japanese company to compensate for wartime labour exploitation; Israel denies the attack on the UN shelter in Gaza that also drew a rebuke from Washington; Fuel runs out in Laos.
In Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, the celebrations for the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya provided an opportunity for further intimidation of Christians. The police refused to accept complaints, citing "pressure from above". The local diocese asks for protection.
Since November 2013, the Bangladesh government has officially recognised the transgender community by admitting them on identity documents as a third gender in addition to male and female. However, the inclusion of the issue of inclusion in school education is also causing debate. The case of a teacher who was fired for blatantly tearing out the pages of a book is provoking demonstrations supported by Islamic fundamentalists.
Today's news: progress on the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, but Hamas wants an end to the war; In Islamabad, a Belucian garrison was removed and protesters were booked; As Beijing forges alliances in the Pacific, Taiwan asks Biden to join the US-led 'Indo-Pacific economic framework'; Modi's India expels French journalist Vanessa Dougnac, correspondent of the Catholic newspaper La Croix.
It is one of the countries with the highest number of elephant deaths in the world: the subspecies inhabiting the island numbers less than 7,000. One of the main causes is habitat reduction, compounded by farmers' illegal electrified nets that in 2023 alone killed 50 elephants. Now the power company has begun to sue those who divert the voltage into these barriers.
Today's news: In Pakistan, suspected bombing led to the closure of schools and universities in Islamabad; A 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China. Large-scale attacks by the United States and Britain against the Houthis in Yemen; Relatives of hostages break into parliament in Jerusalem, 21 Israeli soldiers killed in a single day in Gaza. In Russia over 400 attacks on military bases and logistical facilities to sabotage the war in Ukraine.
The Ram Mandir, the new temple symbol of India in the place disputed with Muslims, has been officially consecrated. For Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “our Lord Ram has finally arrived,” marking “the beginning of a new era”. Bishop Mathias hopes that the “Ram Rajya (Reign of Rama) that Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of for our beloved country” will be realised. Today also marks 25 years since Rev Staines and his two sons were burnt alive in one of the most brutal acts of religious violence in the country's recent history.
As required by the Supreme Court ruling settling the dispute, the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated land for the new mosque, which will be some 25 kilometres from the city centre. Thus far, the project exists only on paper while the local Muslim community is wary of the state body that is raising funds for its construction.
Tomorrow the Sri Lankan parliament will begin examining a controversial government bill. Last year, 8,000 complaints were filed, 3,000 related to social media. Critics warn that the proposed legislation is flawed, its vague definitions of terms and offences creating considerable risks for arbitrary and subjective interpretations.
The war against Hamas is profoundly changing Israel’s labour market, especially in agriculture and construction. Tens of thousands of Thais and Nepalis have left, while Palestinian workers are no longer allowed in with Israel calling up of 350,000 reservists. India and Sri Lanka are looking with interest at the opportunities created even if the Indian government will not provide any social protections.
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