India, torrential rains: 37 victims in Punjab and floods in Delhi

Today's headlines: UNIFIL accuses Israel of the attack, Netanyahu's government rejects Hamas' new proposal while the army advances on Gaza City. Hundreds of women also take part in the second week of protests in Indonesia. In Malaysia, new data on bullying, which continues to increase. UN: “credible reports” of medical experiments on people with disabilities in North Korea.

INDIA

Heavy rains and floods are affecting the northern states of India, causing serious damage to people and property. In particular, around 37 lives have been lost in Punjab due to severe flooding, the state government announced today. In August, the death toll stood at 130. Meanwhile, in the national capital, Delhi, the water level of the Yamuna River at the Old Railway Bridge has reached 207.48 metres, while the flood continues to submerge the surrounding areas.

ISRAEL - GAZA - LEBANON

UNIFIL has accused the Israeli army of “dropping four grenades near UNIFIL personnel” in southern Lebanon. It has been described as one of the “most serious attacks against UNIFIL personnel and equipment since the cessation of hostilities agreement last November”. Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced the launch of the second phase of Operation Gideon's Chariots to occupy Gaza City. ‘Bringing our hostages home is both a moral and a national mission,’ he said. Just yesterday, at least 43 Palestinians were killed in Gaza City alone, while Israel rejected Hamas's statement last night opening the door to an agreement on the release of all hostages in exchange for an end to hostilities and the withdrawal of the army from the Strip.

INDONESIA

Hundreds of women dressed in pink and armed with brooms marched to the parliament in Jakarta to protest against police abuse and unnecessary government spending. The protests in Indonesia are in their second week, fuelled by anger over the rising cost of living and the privileges granted to parliamentarians. President Prabowo had announced that he would not attend China's military parade, but was seen posing for a photo with Xi Jinping and Putin.

MALAYSIA

According to data from the Malaysian Ministry of Education, cases of bullying have increased every year since 2021, when 326 were reported. The figure then jumped to 7,681 last year. Previously, the problem was more prevalent in universities and secondary schools, but now bullying is said to be more common among younger students. In August, Minister Azalina Othman Said said that an anti-bullying initiative is being considered, including the establishment of a court for cases involving children.

NORTH KOREA

The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has stated that, according to “credible reports”, North Korea is conducting medical experiments on persons with disabilities, performing forced sterilisation and abortions, and killing newborns with disabilities. The Committee said that these experiments are allegedly being conducted without free and informed consent in paediatric institutions and detention facilities.

GEORGIA

The Tbilisi court sentenced nine more pro-European protesters to several years in prison, including a Russian man also accused of drug dealing for possession of marijuana, who received nine years, and the other protesters, all very young, were sentenced to between two and three years in prison for ‘organising or participating in actions against public order’.

RUSSIA

As documented by Novaya Gazeta, Russia is investing billions of roubles in the patriotic education of schoolchildren, with over 20 billion (€200 million) being invested this year, equivalent to the entire budget of one of the smallest regions in the Federation. It is also controlling all social media applications accessible to young people, thanks to contributions from Putin's oligarchs such as Arkady Rotenberg, one of the billionaires closest to Vladimir Putin.

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