Today’s news: Lao police rescue 17 girls (as young as 10) from sexual slavery for Chinese tourists. UN report denounces ‘institutionalised’ forced labour in North Korea. Six Vietnamese poisoned in Bangkok hotel room. Recruitment among ultra-Orthodox begins next week, clashes in Tel Aviv. Hindu group offers prayer for Trump’s ‘health’ after attack.
OMAN
Nine people were killed, including three attackers, and nearly thirty were injured in the attack on the Shiite mosque of Ali bin Abi Talib in Oman on the evening of 15 July. A rare episode of bloodshed in the Sultanate, which left at least four Pakistanis, one Indian and one policeman dead. The Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) claimed the action in a message on Telegram.
LAOS
Police discovered and rescued Seventeen underage girls – including three as young as 10 – were arrested after three houses were searched in the tourist city of Luang Prabang, leading to the arrest of four people. The girls, aged between 14 and 17 on average, were from rural areas and were recruited through false pretenses with offers of work in hotels and restaurants in the city, before being turned into sexual slaves for Chinese tourists.
NORTH KOREA
The UN denounces a deeply institutionalized system of forced labor in North Korea, which in some cases could amount to slaveryThe report examines the Pyongyang regime’s “control and exploitation” of an “extensive, multi-layered system of forced labour” based on 183 interviews conducted between 2015 and 2023 with victims and witnesses who fled the country and are now abroad.
THAILAND
Six people have died in a room at a luxury Bangkok hotel. Police say they may have been poisoned after “ingesting cyanide hidden in tea” in a case of murder-suicide over debt problems. The victims, two of whom were dual Vietnamese-American nationals and the remaining four Vietnamese, were guests at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel.
ISRAEL
Starting next week, the Israeli military (IDF) will begin the process of recruitment among the ultra-Orthodox, who until now were exempt from military service but can now enlist following the Supreme Court’s ruling in June. Following the announcement, there were protests yesterday strong clashes in Tel Aviv between ultra-Orthodox protesters and police forces.
INDIA
A Hindu group that celebrates the birthday of Donald Trump In Delhi, he prayed for his safety after he was attacked, saying he is the only leader who can rid the world of “radical Islam.” Dozens of people attended the ceremony of the Hindu Sena (Hindu Army), with the goddess of power and protection (Baglamukhi) next to the image of the American presidential candidate.
RUSSIA
President Vladimir Putin signs the latest amendments to Russia’s Tax Code, abolishing the 13% flat tax and introducing progressive taxation for individuals from 1 January 2025. Increases are planned for those earning more than 200,000 rubles a month (over 2,000 euros) or 2.4 million rubles a year, with an increase of up to 20-25% on company profits.
ARMENIA – CHINA
Direct air connections between Armenia and China will soon be opened, it was announced after the meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pašinyan and Beijing’s ambassador to Yerevan, Fan Yun, at the end of his mission in Armenia. The aim is to “give a major boost to the development of tourism and economic and trade relations between the two countries.”
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