BANGLADESH
Survey to document refugees
Authorities began a survey to determine the number of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution in majority-Buddhist Myanmar. About 33,000 Rohingya have been documented in two official camps in the southern coastal district of Cox’s Bazar that borders Myanmar, but officials said another 300,000 to 500,000 remain unaccounted for. Bangladeshi Bureau of Statistics began the exercise this week with the help of the Geneva-based International Organization of Migration, survey director Alamgir Hossain said.
INDIA
Bird classification decried
The chief minister of the popular tourist state of Goa yesterday moved to smooth ruffled feathers after a proposal to reclassify the national bird, the peacock, as vermin sparked an outcry. Laxmikant Parsekar appeared to rule out including peacocks in a list of “nuisance animals” being drawn up by the state to make them easier to cull, the Press Trust of India said. After complaints the colorful birds were becoming a widespread menace in rural areas, the Minister for Agriculture suggested including them in a list of vermin along with wild boar, bison and monkeys. The peacock is India’s national bird and is protected under the country’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
INDONESIA
Quake cuts communications
A strong earthquake near an eastern island late on Friday knocked out telephone and radio communications and roads, but there were no reported casualties, local residents and a government official said yesterday. The US Geological Survey said a magnitude 6.5 earthquake at a depth of 30km was reported about 3km from Andekantor, a town on Sumba island in East Nusa Tenggara province. “Not yet,” Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said yesterday when asked whether there were any casualties. Roads had suffered the most damage local residents said. Nugroho said his agency would continue to monitor the situation.
UNITED STATES
Pakistan F-16 sale approved
The nation on Friday said that it had approved selling up to eight Lockheed Martin F-16 jets to Pakistan, along with training, radar and other equipment, worth a total of US$699 million. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which coordinates such foreign arms sales, said it had informed US Congress of the plans on Thursday. “This proposed sale contributes to US foreign policy objectives and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia,” it said in a statement. “The proposed sale improves Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future security threats.” The F-16 aircraft would allow Pakistan’s air force to operate in all kinds of weather, at night, as well as “enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations.” Pakistan’s archrival India said it was “disappointed” by the possible sale. “We are disappointed at the decision of the [US President Barack Obama’s] administration to notify the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan,” Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter. “We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism.” He said India planned to summon the US ambassador “to convey our displeasure.” However, the US agency said that “the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
A new online voting system aimed at boosting turnout among the Philippines’ millions of overseas workers ahead of Monday’s mid-term elections has been marked by confusion and fears of disenfranchisement. Thousands of overseas Filipino workers have already cast their ballots in the race dominated by a bitter feud between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his impeached vice president, Sara Duterte. While official turnout figures are not yet publicly available, data from the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) showed that at least 134,000 of the 1.22 million registered overseas voters have signed up for the new online system, which opened on April 13. However,
EUROPEAN FUTURE? Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says only he could secure EU membership, but challenges remain in dealing with corruption and a brain drain Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama seeks to win an unprecedented fourth term, pledging to finally take the country into the EU and turn it into a hot tourist destination with some help from the Trump family. The artist-turned-politician has been pitching Albania as a trendy coastal destination, which has helped to drive up tourism arrivals to a record 11 million last year. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also joined in the rush, pledging to invest US$1.4 billion to turn a largely deserted island into a luxurious getaway. Rama is expected to win another term after yesterday’s vote. The vote would
FRAUD ALLEGED: The leader of an opposition alliance made allegations of electoral irregularities and called for a protest in Tirana as European leaders are to meet Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party scored a large victory in parliamentary elections, securing him his fourth term, official results showed late on Tuesday. The Socialist Party won 52.1 percent of the vote on Sunday compared with 34.2 percent for an alliance of opposition parties led by his main rival Sali Berisha, according to results released by the Albanian Central Election Commission. Diaspora votes have yet to be counted, but according to initial results, Rama was also leading there. According to projections, the Socialist Party could have more lawmakers than in 2021 elections. At the time, it won 74 seats in the
CANCER: Jose Mujica earned the moniker ‘world’s poorest president’ for giving away much of his salary and living a simple life on his farm, with his wife and dog Tributes poured in on Tuesday from across Latin America following the death of former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-guerrilla fighter revered by the left for his humility and progressive politics. He was 89. Mujica, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost his battle against cancer after announcing in January that the disease had spread and he would stop treatment. “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, guide and leader. We will miss you greatly, old friend,” Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi wrote on X. “Pepe, eternal,” a cyclist shouted out minutes later,
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