Monsoon rains over the past month have killed at least 150 people across Pakistan, with most of the deaths occurring in the southern Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the deceased include 88 women and children. At least 26 people have died in Sindh so far whereas in Balochistan 62 people - 23 women, 15 men, and 24 children - have lost their lives in rain-related tragedies, as per the NDMA. Incessant showers have also damaged homes, roads, bridges and power stations across the country.
Pak women barred from visiting tourist spots
A tribal council in Pakistan has barred women from visiting public places for tourism and entertainment, terming it “unethical” and against the Islamic principles. The all-male jirga (tribal council) of local elders of ultra-conservative Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur tribal district announced that if the government did not implement the decision, the jirga members would take it upon themselves to impose it. The jirga was organised by the local chapter of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, which is also one of the main members of the ruling coalition. The move comes just days after the World Economic Forum, in its Gender Gap Report, ranked Pakistan as the second worst country in terms of gender parity in the world as well as the region.
Unseasonal floods kill 39 in Af
Unseasonal rains and flooding have killed at least 39 people in Afghanistan, the United Nations said. Fourteen other people were wounded, according to the UN’s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs. The rains have caused land to slide, exposing unexploded ordnance from four decades of war and conflict. The mines are being moved and exploded under controlled circumstances to prevent further casualties. This is the third time that the eastern region has experienced flash floods in less than a month, with 19 people killed and 131 people injured. In eastern Nangarhar and Nuristan, some 500 families were affected. About 800 hectares of agricultural land were destroyed, along with a bridge, 19 km of road and three schools.
Nepal scraps panels probing rights abuse
Nepal has not extended the tenure of two crucial committees it formed to investigate human rights violations during its decades-long conflict, throwing into uncertainty promises of transitional justice in the country. The 'Truth and Reconciliation Committee' and the committee on the disappeared were looking into cases of alleged abuse between 1996 and 2006. Their tenure ended last week. A cabinet meeting decided not to continue with the two panels, but demonstrated its inclination towards amending the laws to expedite 'transitional justice'. The meeting has decided to offer general amnesty to most of the 'rebels' - then Maoists - as well as leaders allegedly involved in rights violations, sources added.
9 shot dead in separate incidents in SA
Police are on the hunt for suspects after nine people were fatally shot in separate shooting incidents in two provinces of South Africa on Saturday night, police said. The latest slew of shootings come on the heels of an uptick in violent deaths in the country. Four people were shot and two more were injured at the Thembelihle informal settlement in the Gauteng province. Preliminary investigation suggests that a group of men were playing dice at a street corner when unknown assailants fired at them. In another separate incident also at Thembelihle, in the south of Johannesburg, a 36-year-old man who appeared to have been robbed and shot dead, they added. Meanwhile, in the Western Cape Province, police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of a triple murder in Khayelitsha township.
Public servants told to smile or get fined
A Philippine mayor has ordered public servants to smile, or risk a fine, as he seeks to improve the level of service provided by the local government. Aristotle Aguirre introduced the “smile policy” after being sworn into office on the main island of Luzon. The policy must be adopted “while serving the people to give sincerity by showing a feeling of calmness and friendly atmosphere”, the executive order said. Aguirre said the measure was in response to complaints from locals, about the unfriendly treatment they received from town hall staff. Aguirre wants to “change the attitude of our government workers”. Employees who don’t comply with the order could be fined or suspended.
Heatwave scorches Europe; health alerts issued
Hundreds more people were evacuated from their homes as wildfires blistered land in France, Spain and Portugal, while officials in Europe issued health warnings for the heatwave in the coming days.
More than 1,000 firefighters, supported by water-bomber aircraft, have battled to control two blazes in southwestern France that have been fanned by scorching heat, tinder-box conditions and strong winds. While temperatures dipped a little in Portugal, they were still expected to top 40C in some places, with five districts on red alert and more than 1,000 firefighters tackling 17 wildfires. In Spain, the environment ministry said it was tackling 17 wildfires across the country. Meanwhile, the worst drought in over 70 years reduced Italy’s longest river, the Po, to little more than a trickle in places. Italy has declared a state of emergency along the Po, which supports about a third of the country’ agricultural production.
Kishida blames inadequate police protection for Abe death
Japanese PM Fumio Kishidaon blamed inadequate police protection for the death of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot while giving an outdoor campaign speech. Abe, one of Japan’s most influential politicians, was assassinated recently in western Japan, shocking a nation known for its low crime rate. Photos and videos of the shooting show the gunman was able to come close to Abe. Officials at the National Public Safety Commission and National Police Agency are investigating what went wrong and will come up with measures, Kishida said.
Over 6 mn honeybees killed in Australia
Australia had to kill millions of honeybees to stop a potentially deadly parasite infection named Varroa mite in the last two weeks. First spotted at a port near Sydney, the parasite is posing threat to Australia’s multimillion-dollar honey industry. As per the report, the parasites were first detected near the Port of Newcastle, and have spread to over 400 different sites and over 6 million bees have been killed to limit the outbreak. Varroa mites can kill and weaken colonies by feeding on them and transmitting viruses. As per the Australian beekeeping website Bee Aware, “the mites feed and reproduce on larvae and pupae in the developing brood, causing malformation and weakening of honey bees as well as transmitting numerous viruses”. With the growing population of mites in bee colonies, the symptoms can worsen.
Uber sued by 500+ female passengers in US
Uber Technologies Inc. is being sued by more than 500 women across the US who claim to have been assaulted by Uber drivers during their rides. The complaint, filed by Slater Slater Schulman LLP in San Francisco, alleges that women were “kidnapped, sexually assaulted, sexually battered, raped, falsely imprisoned, stalked, harassed or otherwise attacked” in their rides. It claims Uber has known about the sexual misconduct by some of the drivers, including rape, since 2014. Uber has long struggled to handle complaints of misconduct. Just two weeks ago, the company released its second safety report that showed it received 3,824 reports of the five most severe categories of sexual assault in 2019 and 2020.