Pakistani Raid in Afghanistan Leaves Eight Women and Children Dead
Published on: March 18, 2024.
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Pakistan-Afghanistan Cross-Border Airstrikes Claim Lives of Eight
Today, in at least two cross-border airstrikes carried out by the Pakistani army, eight women and children lost their lives. The Taliban in Kabul has condemned the action as “reckless”. Tensions have been escalating between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Koranic students came to power in the summer of 2021. The airstrikes were carried out in retaliation for the killing of seven Pakistani soldiers over the weekend. President Asif Ali Zardari had promised a response to the attack.
South Korea’s Changing Marriage and Parenthood Trends
A recent study has revealed that only 51.7% of unmarried adults in South Korea have plans to get married, and less than half aspire to have children in the future. The research, based on a sample of 1059 bachelors aged between 19 and 49, found that 24.5% completely exclude marriage, while 19.1% remain undecided. Interestingly, more men (56.3%) expressed a willingness to marry as compared to women (47.2%). Furthermore, only 28.3% of the participants expressed a desire to have children.
Hanoi Faces Billions in Crop Losses Due to Salinization
The city of Hanoi in Vietnam is grappling with annual crop losses amounting to around three billion dollars due to the intrusion of saltwater into farmland. The Mekong Delta, which is known as the “rice bowl of Vietnam”, is the worst affected region. This area provides sustenance to millions of people in the country. The damage caused by salinization includes 29% to fruit trees, 27% to crops, and nearly 14% to rice production.
India Set to Hold World’s Largest Election
The Election Commission of India has announced that the country will conduct its parliamentary elections in seven phases, starting from April 19 and concluding in early June. This election is expected to be the largest in the world, with nearly one billion eligible voters. The counting of the votes will begin on June 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to this event as “the greatest festival of democracy”.
Chinese Embassy in Singapore Warns Expats Against Gambling
The Chinese embassy in Singapore has issued a warning to expatriates residing in the city-state, advising them to refrain from participating in any form of gambling. According to the embassy, engaging in overseas gambling activities violates Beijing’s laws. The advisory follows the Chinese government’s crackdown on individuals addicted to gambling in Southeast Asian countries, regardless of the legality of the gambling activities. It is important to note that those facing problems will not receive assistance from the embassies.
Israel Establishes National Day of Remembrance for October 7
The Israeli government has unanimously decided to commemorate “the catastrophe” of October 7 with an annual national day of remembrance. This date refers to the Hamas attack in the southern region that triggered the war in Gaza. The day will be marked by two ceremonies, one at 11 am to honor the fallen soldiers and another at 1 pm to remember the civilian victims. This solemn occasion will remember at least 1160 deaths. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has already claimed the lives of 31,600 people, including 13,000 children. Additionally, the Israeli army has launched a new operation targeting al-Shifa hospital.
Vladimir Putin Re-Elected as President of Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been re-elected with a staggering 87.17% of the votes. Approximately 70% of the ballots have been counted so far. The Election Commission has declared Nikolai Kharitonov from the Communist Party as the runner-up with 4.19% of the votes. Vladislav Davankov from the New People party and Leonid Slutsky from LDPR secured the third and fourth positions with 4.08% and 3.15% respectively. The voter turnout during the three days of voting was high, with 74.22% of eligible voters casting their ballots. In his first speech after the election, Putin briefly acknowledged the death of Alexei Navalny as a “sad event”.
Turkey Pushes for Reopening of “Zangezur Corridor”
Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, along with his counterparts from Azerbaijan and Georgia, expressed their joint support for reopening the “Zangezur corridor” (known as Lachin for Armenians) during a press conference in Baku. Fidan believes that it is the best way to ensure lasting peace in the region, considering all the countries involved.
