NEWS

Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament Passes Controversial Laws Weakening Human Rights Protections ————————————- Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approved two draft laws last Wednesday that significantly undermine protections against torture and media freedom, sparking widespread concern among human rights advocates, Human Rights Watch reported. The legislation…

Taliban Ban Photography and Videography at Kandahar University …………………. Students at Kandahar University report that the Taliban have banned photography and videography on campus, reflecting wider restrictions in Afghanistan’s educational institutions, Amu TV reported. During a recent award ceremony, Taliban…

Japan Performs First Execution in Two Years, Executing “Twitter Killer” ……………….. Japan has reportedly carried out its first execution in two years, executing Takahiro Shiraishi, known as the “Twitter killer,” according to local media. Shiraishi, 34, was hanged on Friday…

Brain Changes Linked to Depression Risk Persist After Recovery, Study Finds ………………… New research reveals that individuals who have recovered from depression may still have heightened sensitivity to negative cues and difficulty regulating responses to potential punishment, News-Medical reported. The…

A group of 40 former world leaders, including ex-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has called for urgent global cooperation to address rising inequality and poverty as the prospect of the world’s first trillionaires looms. The leaders’ letter, organized by Club…

Millions Missing from Global Census Data, Threatening Policy Accuracy ………………. Researchers warn that millions worldwide are missing from census and survey data, creating a “quiet crisis” that hampers effective policymaking, science website SciTechDaily reported. Declining response rates and data reliability…

Flash floods in Pakistan’s Swat Valley kill 9, dozens of tourists swept away ………………. Flash floods triggered by pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of tourists in northwest Pakistan’s Swat Valley on Friday, killing at least nine people. Officials said the…

Pakistan’s Top Court Blocks PTI’s Claim to Reserved Seats ……………….. Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday ruled that former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is not entitled to reserved seats in parliament, overturning an earlier decision that had…

Germany Suspends Family Reunions for Many Migrants …………………. Germany’s parliament voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, marking the first step in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s push for stricter migration controls. Lawmakers in the Bundestag backed the measure 444-135,…

World Bank Warns of Surging Poverty in Conflict Zones ………………… Conflicts and related deaths have more than tripled since the early 2000s, pushing millions deeper into poverty, the World Bank warned in a new report released Friday. The report highlights…