Hundreds of men armed with sticks set fire to the victim’s darbar in the Kushtia district. A video of Pir Abdur Rahman, 65, allegedly insulting the Qur‘an from three years ago circulated on social media. Police failed to stop the violence. The authorities and NGOs slammed security failures, calling for investigations, but no arrests have yet been made.
In the South Korea, single-person households now represent 36 per cent of the population. Faced with rising numbers of people hard pressed to cope with loneliness, the city administration is boosting its support services, including moving assistance and emotional support. The programme, already in place for hospital visits with high satisfaction rates, aims to combat loneliness and daily difficulties.
The conflict with Iran, the Gulf crisis and devastating attacks in Lebanon are overshadowing the tragedy in the Strip. Over 21,000 children have been killed, nearly 45,000 injured, and at least 58,000 have lost one or both parents. There is a shortage of drinking water and medicines, and infectious diseases are spreading. The aid system is paralysed. Restrictions imposed by Israel are taking their toll, whilst Hamas is weakened but not disarmed.
“Highway to Somewhere” is a TV series produced in Singapore but set in Malaysia, centred on an online scam network. It has drawn criticism from groups concerned about its impact on Malaysia’s image. The broadcaster that aired the series has dismissed the accusations, saying its goal was to raise awareness about the phenomenon of online scam centres in Southeast Asia.
The President of the National Assembly in Hanoi presented the Pope with a letter from the President, who is now firmly at the helm of power in Vietnam. It was precisely internal disagreements over the local political balance of power that had slowed down the preparations for the visit, which is so eagerly awaited by the Catholic community. Cardinal Parolin is due to visit soon to establish full diplomatic relations. The possibility of 2027, when the Pope is already expected in Seoul for World Youth Day.
For four years now, the forty-year-old Serdar Berdymukhamedov has held the office of president in Ashgabat, but his father, Gurbanguly, continues to present himself at every opportunity – both at home and abroad – as the true ‘national leader of the Turkmen people’. The son may well be better prepared than his father in the fields of politics and diplomacy, but he confines himself to chairing government meetings for the benefit of the cameras.
