Radical Islamists in Pakistan have vandalised a Hindu temple and broke the murti of Shri Krishna at Khipro in the Sanghar district of Sindh province on the Janmashtami day last week. The incident took place when locals were celebrating Janmashtami rituals at the temple. Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul took to Twitter to share the pictures of the damaged Krishna murti. He also shared a snippet where an elderly Hindu woman, who was an eyewitness to the crime, is heard categorically saying that some Islamists desecrated the Krishna murti. In Pakistan, there has been an increase in attacks against religious minorities’ houses of worship in recent years. The international community has repeatedly chastised the country for failing to protect the interests of its minority. Despite this, the Imran Khan government has done little to address the situation.
Pak hosts virtual meet of Af neighbours
Pakistan on Sunday hosted a virtual meeting of the special representatives and envoys of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, including China and Iran, during which the participants agreed that peace in the war-torn nation is crucial for security and stability of the region. The meeting chaired by Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq was attended by representatives of China, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the foreign office said. “ During the meeting, views were exchanged on the latest situation in Afghanistan,” it said. Sadiq highlighted the importance of evolving a regional approach to address challenges and to realise the new opportunities arising from a stable Afghanistan, it said. “Colleagues were unanimous that peace in Afghanistan is vital for security, stability and prosperity of the region,” Sadiq said.
Pak Taliban bomber blows himself up
A suicide bomber of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan blew himself up in the country’s restive Balochistan province, killing at least four security personnel and injuring 20 people, a top police official said. The attack targeted a Frontier Corps (FC) check post on the Mastung road in Quetta, the provincial capital, deputy inspector General of Quetta police Azhar Akram said. He told reporters that an initial investigations suggested that the suicide bomber drove an explosives laden motorcycle into a vehicle carrying Frontier Corps. “The bomb disposal squad has estimated that the motorcycle was laden with 6kg of explosives,” he said. Condemning the attack, PM Imran Khan took to Twitter to offer condolences to the families of those killed. Balochistan home minister also condemned the attack and sought a report.
Nepal warns its citizens against disgraceful acts
The Nepal government warned its citizens against carrying out any “reprehensible and disgraceful” actions that may hurt the dignity of the friendly nations after some people burnt effigies of PM Narendra Modi during protests in the country. In a statement, Nepal’s home ministry said that the PM has taken a note of “chanting slogans, holding demonstrations and protest and burning effigies to tarnish the image of the neighbouring friendly nation’s PM”. The home ministry statement, however, did not identify the leader. The statement came after students and youth organisations belonging to both the ruling alliance and the opposition burnt effigies of PM Modi during protests over the death of a Nepalese youth when he was crossing the Mahakali river near the border with India in July.
Germany must engage with Taliban: Merkel
Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel has said that the country must engage with the Taliban in order to help evacuate Afghans who had worked for them. Merkel told reporters that “we simply have to talk to the Taliban about how we can get the people who used to work for Germany out of the country and to safety”. She added: “They are the ones one needs to talk to now.” Merkel said that it was also in Germany’s interest to support international aid organsations who are helping improve the humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan.
Dubai eatery launches world’s first gold vada pav
An Indian restaurant in Dubai has come up with a Mumbai vada pav variation involving real gold. Unveiling the world’s first ‘22 Karat O’Gold Vada Pao’, the eatery teased fans with a video of their new dish, priced at AED 99 (Rs 1,970). The vada is far from the humble potato patty found in Mumbai street stalls. The vada is filled with cheese and imported French truffle butter, while the bread is topped with homemade mint mayonnaise dip. The flavoured potato patty is wrapped with premium quality French-imported 22-karat golden leaves. Served in a wooden carved box lit with a nitrogen base, it comes with a side of sweet potato fries and mint lemonade.
Israeli president and Jordanian king hold secret talks
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has revealed he met King Abdullah II of Jordan in Amman, an unannounced meeting held against the backdrop of improving diplomatic ties between the two countries. “Last week I met and had a very long conversation with the king of Jordan, I was in his palace, an entire evening. It was an excellent meeting,” Herzog said in clips from an interview broadcast on Israeli television. “Jordan is a very important country. I have immense respect for King Abdullah, a great leader and a highly significant regional actor,” Herzog said. The meeting took place at King Abdullah’s palace, with the two leaders discussing a series of political and economic issues including energy and sustainability, according to the statement. It spoke of a “warm meeting, held at the king’s invitation”, during which the two discussed “deep strategic issues”.
UAE rolls out plan to liberalise laws
The United Arab Emirates announced on Sunday a major plan to stimulate its economy and liberalise stringent residency laws for expatriates, as the country seeks to overhaul its finances and attract foreign residents and capital. The country’s plan to lure foreign talent reflects a growing contrast with the other oil rich economies of the Persian Gulf that are becoming increasingly protectionist. Abdulla bin Touq, the minister of the economy, pledged that the Emirati government would pour some USD 13.6 billion into the economy over the next year. He laid out a raft of investment opportunities for countries to boost development by 10 per cent in the coming years. The new plans give residents time to seek jobs, allow youth to gain employment as they live with their parents, and enable widows and divorced couples to stay longer without visa restrictions.
Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis passes away
Mikis Theodorakis, the beloved Greek composer whose rousing music and life of political defiance won acclaim abroad and inspired millions at home, died last week. He was 96. The cause was cardiopulmonary arrest. Born Michail Theodorakis on the eastern Aegean island of Chios on July 29, 1925, he was exposed to music and politics from a young age. He began writing music and poetry in his teens, just as Greece entered World War II. During the war, he was arrested by the country’s Italian and German occupiers for his involvement in left-wing resistance groups. Some of those same groups opposed the government and monarchy that led Greece after the war, leading to a 1946-49 civil war in which the Communist- backed rebels eventually lost. Theodorakis was jailed and sent to remote Greek islands. As a result of severe beatings and torture, Theodorakis suffered broken limbs, respiratory problems and other injuries that plagued his health for the rest of his life. He suffered tuberculosis, was thrown into a psychiatric hospital, and was subjected to mock executions.
Paris lowers speed limit to protect climate
No more zipping past the Eiffel Tower or through the Latin Quarter without slowing down to soak in the sights. The speed limit in nearly all of Paris is just 30 kmph. It’s the latest initiative by a city trying to burnish its climate credentials and transform people’s relationship to their vehicles. City officials say it’s also aimed at reducing accidents and making Paris more pedestrian-friendly. Car owners and commuters are fuming. Delivery drivers say it will create longer wait times for customers. Taxi drivers say it will drive up rates and hurt business. And some critics say it won’t make much of a dent in pollution. “People take a cab because they’re in a hurry. At 30 kmph, they might as well walk'” a cab driver said. But polls suggest most Parisians support the idea, notably in hopes that it makes the streets safer and quieter.
Texas gets SC nod to keep abortion ban
A Texas abortion ban that is the strictest in the US in almost half a century will remain in place for the foreseeable future after a US Supreme Court decision that raised questions about how it will rule on another upcoming case on women’s rights. The court’s move to leave in place a ban on abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy could foreshadow what is to come as the 6-3 conservative majority court decides in the coming months whether to curb abortion rights nationwide. By a 5-4 vote, the justices denied an emergency request by abortion and women’s health providers for an injunction on enforcement of the ban, which prohibits abortion at six weeks. The law could still be blocked at some other stage. The law would amount to a near-total ban on the procedures in Texas as 85% to 90% of abortions are obtained after six weeks of pregnancy, and would probably force many clinics to close, abortion rights groups said.
Japan princess to marry commoner
Japan’s Princess Mako is breaking with tradition to marry her boyfriend and move to the US to start a new life with him. She has reportedly turned down a $1.36 million payout given to the imperial family members who marry out of the royal family. Princess Mako, the daughter of Japan’s crown prince and the niece of Emperor Naruhito, and her boyfriend, Kei Komuro, will marry by the end of the year without holding the related ritual ceremonies, a government source said. Her rejection of the payout comes amid public unease about their marriage due to a money dispute between Komuro’s mother and her former fiancé. The Times also reported that they plan to move to the United States, where Komuro intends to work at a New York law firm pending his law exam results. The couple met while attending a study-abroad event at a restaurant in Shibuya, a district in Tokyo.
Japanese director’s vehicle attacked
A vehicle carrying acclaimed Japanese film director and actor Takeshi Kitano was attacked by a man with a pickaxe and a knife, media reports said. Kitano, 74, also a comedian, was inside the vehicle on the premises of private network TBS in Tokyo when the attack took place on Saturday. The attacker, a man in 40s, cracked the windshield and beat other parts of the vehicle, media said. Police arrested the man and are trying to determine the motive. Takeshi garnered international fame for his roles in gritty thriller “Battle Royale” as well as in comedy game show “Takeshi’s Castle”.
Twitter launches ‘super follows’ in US
Twitter Inc launched a “super follows” feature on its social media platform, which would allow creators to generate monthly revenue by sharing subscriber-only content with their followers. People in the US and Canada using iOS can super follow a select group of people within the United States, the company said, adding that it would roll the feature out to people using iOS globally in the next few weeks. In February, the company had outlined plans, which included tipping and paid subscriptions to “super follow” some accounts, to attain at least $7.5 billion in annual revenue and 315 million monetizable daily active users (mDAU) by the end of 2023. Creators can set a monthly subscription of $2.99, $4.99 or $9.99 a month to monetize bonus, behind-the-scenes content for their most engaged followers through the feature, Twitter said. Earlier in the day, Twitter said it would launch a safety feature that allows users to temporarily block accounts for seven days for using harmful language or sending uninvited replies.
Muammar Gaddafi's son released from prison
Authorities in Libya have released Saadi Gaddafi, a son of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi who was ousted and killed during a 2011 uprising. Prime minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said in a tweet that Gaddafi, 48, had been released in compliance with a previous court order. Gaddafi immediately departed on a plane to Istanbul. Saadi Gaddafi, who was known for his playboy lifestyle during his father’s dictatorship and for being a professional footballer, fled for Niger during the Nato-backed uprising. But he was tracked down and extradited to Libya in 2014 and has been imprisoned since then in Tripoli. During the uprising, three of the dictator’s seven sons were killed and the country has since sunk into chaos, with rival factions vying for power.
