Afghanistan’s dwindling community of Sikhs and Hindus is shrinking to its lowest levels. With growing threats from the local IS affiliate, many are choosing to leave the country of their birth to escape the insecurity and a once-thriving community of as many as 2,50,000 members now counts fewer than 700. The community’s numbers have been declining for years because of deep-rooted discrimination in the majority Muslim country. But, without what they say is protection from the government, the attacks by the Islamic State group may complete the exodus. “We are no longer able to stay here,” said a member of the tiny community, who asked to be identified only by his last name, Hamdard, out of fear he may be targeted for speaking out. Hamdard said seven relatives of his, including his sister, nephews, and son-in-law were killed by IS gunmen in an attack on the community’s temple in March, which killed 25 Sikhs. Hamdard joined a group of Sikhs and Hindus who left Afghanistan last month for India.
Nepal plans to conduct census in Kalapani areas
After its recent move to include the map showing Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani areas of Pithoragarh in its school textbooks as well as on coins, the Nepalese government is now planning to conduct a census in these areas which it has been claiming as its own. Nepal conducts a census every 10 years and its next census exercise is due in May next year. The exercise, by the country’s National Planning Commission and its Central Bureau of Statistics, involves a nationwide door-to-door survey.
Dozens killed in fresh Afghan clashes
At least 57 members of Afghan security forces were killed and dozens injured in fresh clashes with Taliban fighters across the country. The fresh clashes took place while teams representing the Taliban and the Afghan government were deliberating on peace in the Qatari capital since Sept. 12. But little headway has been made, particularly on a ceasefire. Sunday night's bloodiest clashes were in the central province of Uruzgan, where 24 members of the Afghan security forces were killed when Taliban fighters attacked security checkpoints. Clashes and casualties were also reported in the provinces of Takhar, Helmand, Kapisa, Balkh, Maidan Wardak and Kunduz. In Balkh, the Taliban took hostage three members of Afghanistan's spy organisation, the National Directorate of Security. The Taliban did not confirm casualties on their side, but according to a spokesman for the Pamir military corps said 54 of the insurgents were killed in clashes in Kunduz, Takhar and Baghlan provinces.
Navalny appears in public after leaving Berlin hospital
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny made his first public appearance last week after being discharged from a Berlin hospital where Germany said he was being treated for poisoning by a potentially deadly nerve agent. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incident and said it has yet to see evidence of a crime. A tired-looking Navalny posted a picture of himself on a park bench on Instagram after the hospital treating him announced he had been discharged. The 44-year-old said he planned to have physiotherapy and might follow treatment at a rehabilitation centre to regain his motor skills, including the full use of his left hand.
Lukashenko is secretly sworn in as Belarus prez
Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for a sixth term as president of Belarus in a secret ceremony last week - and used the occasion to declare victory over protesters who have gathered in large numbers for more than a month to contest a re-election that they call fraudulent. “This is the day of our victory, a convincing and fateful one,” Lukashenko told about 700 guests. “We didn’t just elect the country’s president. We defended our values, our peaceful life, our sovereignty and independence.” An opposition politician, Pavel Latushko, denounced the president’s move and called on the public “to immediately start a civil disobedience campaign.” The inauguration, which by law must be broadcast live on television, was conducted under wraps at the Independence Palace, Lukashenko’s residence in Minsk.
US judge halts ban on TikTok downloads
A US federal judge on Sunday halted a politically charged ban ordered by the Trump administration on downloads of the popular video app TikTok, hours before it was to go into effect. District Judge Carl Nichols issued a temporary injunction at the request of Tik-Tok. The opinion was sealed, so no reason for the decision was released in a one-page order by the court. The Trump administration order sought to ban new downloads of the app from midnight (9.30 IST on Monday) but would allow use of TikTok until November 12, when all usage would be blocked. The judge denied TikTok’s request to suspend the November 12 ban. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the Trump administration of “abusing national power to unreasonably suppress other countries’ enterprises”.
500 whales stranded in OZ, 380 dead
More pilot whales were found stranded in Australia last week, raising the estimated total to nearly 500, including 380 that have died, in the largest mass stranding ever recorded in the country. Authorities had already been working to rescue survivors among an estimated 270 whales found on a beach near Strahan in Tasmania. Another 200 stranded whales were spotted from a helicopter less than 10km to the south. All 200 had been confirmed dead.
Saudi Arabia to re-allow umrah from Oct 4
Saudi Arabia will allow pilgrims residing inside the country to undertake the umrah pilgrimage beginning on October 4, after a seven-month pause due to coronavirus concerns, state news agency SPA reported. Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina undertaken any time of the year. Saudi Arabia will allow 6,000 residents inside the kingdom to perform umrah daily, SPA added. Beginning November 1, Saudi Arabia will allow visitors from specific countries deemed safe to perform umrah at 100% of the revised capacity, SPA said.
J&J kicks off final trials of its one-shot vaccine
Buoyed by positive results in its earlier studies, Johnson & Johnson has begun the final stage of clinical trials for its Covid vaccine. Johnson & Johnson’s trials in the US, which began last week, will be the largest, with plans to enroll 60,000 participants. The experimental vaccine may have advantages over some of its competitors, experts said, as it does not need to be stored in subzero temperatures, and may require just one dose instead of two. J&J is the fourth vaccine maker to move its candidate into late stage human trials in the US. Dr Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer of J&J, said that the firm might be able to determine by the end of the year if the vaccine is safe and effective.
China eases entry rules for foreigners
China eased restrictions on some foreigners’ entry into the country, almost six months after it nearly sealed its borders to limit the spread of the pandemic. Foreigners holding residence permits for work, personal matters and reunions were allowed to enter China from September 28, the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs said. Those whose permits expired can apply for relevant new visas, it said. The ministry said foreigners entering China will need to “strictly abide by the regulations on epidemic prevention and control”. Under current rules, travellers to China are subject to a 14-day quarantine and virus tests upon arrival. Those who test positive will be treated or monitored in designated hospitals or isolation facilities.
N Korea kills South ‘defector’, burns his body
A South Korean official apparently trying to defect to North Korea was shot and killed by troops in the North who set his body on fire for fear he might be carrying the coronavirus, Seoul said. The official who was killed was a first mate on a government ship monitoring fishing boats near a disputed sea border with North. A North Korean fishing patrol boat found the man wearing a life jacket and clinging to a floatable device, South Korean officials said. Hours later, they said, a North Korean navy ship approached the man and opened fire, although it was clear he was trying to defect. North Korean soldiers wearing gas masks and other protective gear then poured oil on his body and set it on fire, they said. South Korea’s defence ministry called the killing an“atrocious” act. North Korea has yet to comment. If confirmed by the North, it would be the first time that the country has killed a South Korean citizen in its territory since 2008.
Palestinian rivals agree to hold election in six months
Palestinian factions have agreed to hold an election within six months, in the latest of many attempts to end more than a decade of infighting between President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement and his Islamist rival Hamas. The factions renewed reconciliation efforts after Israel reached diplomatic accords with the UAE and Bahrain, an event that dismayed Palestinians and prompted their leaders to try to present a united front. “The two sides have agreed in principle to hold elections within six months,” said Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official in Istanbul, where officials from both groups met over the past two days.
HK activist Wong held for illegal assembly last Oct
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said he was arrested again for allegedly participating in an unauthorised assembly last October. Wong tweeted that he was arrested when he reported to the Central Police Station as part of a bail requirement. He said he was also accused of violating a pre-coronavirus law banning the wearing of masks in public places on the pretext they obscure identity. Wong told reporters after leaving the police station that it is the third case against him.
