Saudi Arabia backs Iran, calls Israel’s killing of Haniyeh's a 'blatant violation'
Today's headlines: North Korea punishes students and officials for watching a film about the Korean War. Telephone and Internet restrictions leave large parts of Myanmar without information from abroad. In Bangladesh, garment factories reopen after forced closure due protests. War in Gaza hinders polio vaccination amid WHO warning of a possible epidemic.
SAUDI ARABIA – ISRAEL – IRAN
After days of silence, Saudi Arabia has reacted to the assassination in Tehran of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Expressing support for Iran, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El-Khereiji said that the Israeli operation was a "blatant violation" of Iran’s territorial sovereignty, adding that his country rejects any “interference in the internal affairs of any country".
NORTH KOREA
North Korea has expelled four university students from school, sentenced a fifth to hard labour, and fired some government officials for secretly watching the cult film “72 Hours”, directed by Kim Jong-un himself. The big budget movie, which describes the early stages of the Korea War (1950-53), distorting events, was eventually banned after five months without explanation.
MYANMAR
Restrictions on telephone and Internet services and increased surveillance are leaving large areas of Myanmar without information from abroad, Athan Myanmar reports. According to the NGO, telephone and Internet services were cut in 2024 in over 80 municipalities while the authorities arrested at least 70 people for allegedly criticising the military.
BANGLADESH
Garment factories, which account 90 per cent of the country's exports, resumed operations yesterday after the interruptions of recent weeks linked to the violent protests that led to the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh’s garment and textile factories supply major western brands, but were forced to close due to curfews.
GAZA – WHO
The World Health Organisation wants to implement a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, after detecting the virus. However, failure to reach a ceasefire and the ongoing war risk are facilitating the spread of the virus and hindering action to stop it. A polio epidemic was declared last month, with children under five most at risk.
RUSSIA
In the first six months of 2024, 7.9 million foreigners entered Russia, according to FSB data, mostly from Central Asia. They include about 1.8 million Uzbeks, 1.5 Kazakhs, one million Tajiks, 2.7 million Chinese, and half a million Kyrgyz. Turkmens close the top ten list with over 31,000.
TAJIKISTAN – IRAN
While Russia is expelling more and more Tajik nationals, Iran is implementing a visa-free entry regime for them as of next Saturday (10 August), following an agreement between the governments of the two countries. The accord grants citizens of the two countries the right to stay up to 90 days, initially for entry by plane, with the right to look for work.
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