Today’s news: water is also raining down from the dome of the Taj Mahal. Dozens of journalists from various Hong Kong newspapers receive threatening messages. Japan grants citizenship to the daughter of two Afghan refugees. Wave of arrests for alleged paedophilia in Malaysia in a network of foster homes run by an Islamic organisation. Turkmenistan runs out of fuel.
MYANMAR
Myanmar’s military junta has asked for help The international community is calling on the country to deal with the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi, which is also causing death and devastation in Vietnam and Thailand. The capital, Naypyidaw, is among the worst affected areas. According to official sources, the floods have so far caused 33 deaths, but Radio Free Asia is already reporting at least 160 victims.
INDIA
The main dome of the Taj Mahal The Agra Fort, one of India’s most famous monuments, is suffering water damage due to the heavy rains that have not stopped for three days in Uttar Pradesh, and that have flooded an inner garden of the building. A senior official of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), confirmed the news spread through a video that has gone viral, but assured that there is no damage.
HONG KONG
Dozens of journalists At least 13 Hong Kong newspapers were harassed in what appears to be a “systematic and organised attack”, said Selina Cheng, president of the Hong Kong Journalists Association. Fifteen journalists received complaints from family members, landlords and employers, with threats that continuing to work with journalists could violate national security laws. The harassment also included death threats.
JAPAN
In a groundbreaking ruling, the Nagoya High Court granted the Japanese citizenship a girl born in Japan to Afghan refugees, considering her parents to be essentially “stateless” at the time of her birth in November 2022. The girl’s parents fled Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover and were granted refugee status in Japan in August 2023. Japanese law grants citizenship to children born to stateless parents.
MALAYSIA
Malaysian police are investigating Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB), a major Islamic business organisation linked to the Al-Arqam sect, after hundreds of children were rescued from alleged abuses in foster homes believed to be run by the group. Investigators raided 20 foster homes in two Malaysian states, arresting 171 suspects, including Islamic teachers and caregivers, and rescuing 400 children and teenagers.
RUSSIA-IRAN
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received Iranian Supreme Security Council Secretary Ali Ahmadin in St. Petersburg, declaring that “friendly Russian-Iranian relations have become more dynamic in recent years, thanks in particular to the support of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and are also a priority for the new President Masud Pezeshkyan,” while expecting Iran at the BRICS summit in October.
TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan is experiencing a serious fuel shortage again, with long queues at the velayats in Mari and Lebap and throughout the south-east of the country. At petrol stations where it is possible to fill up, a maximum of 20 litres of very poor quality petrol (A-80) is permitted, as was the case at the beginning of August, and new restrictions are expected soon.
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