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Islamabad, July 13 (IANS) The anti-government protest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) entered its 34th consecutive day, with protestors raising slogans against the Pakistani authorities.

What began as demands for basic rights has transformed into a powerful challenge against Islamabad's long-standing control, with local leaders delivering scathing accusations that strike at the heart of Pakistani authorities' narrative on the occupied territory.

Addressing a gathering in Rawalakot on Sunday, protest leader Javed Iqbal said, "For 78 years, they sold us the 'Srinagar liberation' churan (propaganda). That fake churan is now expired; Kashmiris are no longer buying it. When we ask for flour, we get bullets; when we ask for electricity, we get bullets; when we ask for water, we get bullets."

Stressing that PoK is done with Pakistan, the gathering echoed with the slogan, "Every single child will fight to the death, but Kashmir (PoK) will not become a province."

Videos circulating on social media also showed hundreds of locals in the occupied territory, especially women, marching against repression, high taxes, power tariffs, and arbitrary arrests.

Meanwhile, members of the Kashmiri diaspora in Washington staged a protest against the human rights abuses in the PoK, calling for international intervention over what they described as the brutal crackdown by the Pakistani authorities.

The protestors carried a banner that read "Stop state repression in Kashmir" and raised slogans condemning the atrocities in the region.

The demonstrations worldwide come amid ongoing unrest in PoK, during which dozens of civilians have been killed and injured by Pakistani forces, with the region under a strict blockade, curfew, and a total communications blackout.

Last week, the civil society group, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), announced a long march towards Muzaffarabad in PoK on July 15, while urging the people across the region to join the protest in large numbers.

Citing reports, the JAAC further said that another two young men were killed in the firing by the Pakistani forces, as tensions in the occupied territory intensify.

"Every ruler sitting in the Muzaffarabad Assembly is responsible for this massacre -- people will remember that the killers of these young men of ours are the Pakistani forces and the rulers of Muzaffarabad," JAAC posted on X.

"On one side we are lifting the bodies of our young brothers; the remains of those killed a month ago are still kept in custody, and on the other side the rulers are turning this massacre into an election celebration by ignoring it. We will take revenge for the blood of the deceased from these killers," it added.

--IANS

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Kabul, July 13 (IANS) As many as 3.7 million children aged below five years are at increased risk of undernutrition in Afghanistan in 2026 due to child food and nutrition insecurity, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a report.

In its report "Too Little, Too Late: The diet Crisis Facing Young Children in Afghanistan", UNICEF said acute malnutrition has deteriorated in 26 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces compared to 2025. The UN agency stated that conditions are worsening even before Afghanistan's annual peak malnutrition season, which mainly runs from July to September.

According to UNICEF, 83 per cent of severe malnutrition cases and 77 per cent of moderate acute malnutrition cases occur among children aged below two years, showcasing the increasing vulnerability of children during the most critical stage of physical and cognitive development. The UN agency stated that children residing in severely food-insecure households are up to six times more likely to experience severe wasting during the peak malnutrition period.

UNICEF’s Representative in Afghanistan, Tajudeen Oyewale, said: "This new evidence gives us an opportunity to act before children reach the point of severe malnutrition. When families begin reducing meals or cutting back on nutritious foods it is not only a sign of hardship. It is a warning that a child may soon become dangerously wasted. Treatment saves lives, but we must also invest in prevention, starting with the diets of the youngest children and pregnant women."

Apart from poor young child diets and rising food insecurity, worsening malnutrition in Afghanistan is due to disease outbreaks, low immunisation coverage, inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene services, and growing funding and supply gaps.

In a statement, UNICEF stated: "Together, these pressures are increasing children’s vulnerability to wasting and underline the need for coordinated action across nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and social protection services."

Earlier in June, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that 16 million people in Afghanistan will need access to clean water and sanitation services in 2026, Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported.

The OCHA said water scarcity is exposing children to greater health risks and affecting daily life in Afghanistan, forcing people to take coping mechanisms amid deteriorating conditions. The agency stated that access to safe drinking water and sanitation in Afghanistan is a critical humanitarian challenge, Khaama Press reported.

Over the years, Afghanistan has faced recurring droughts, inadequate water-management infrastructure and poverty, resulting in millions of people facing difficulty in getting sufficient water for drinking, household use and agriculture. Humanitarian agencies have said that climate-related shocks are increasing pressure on already fragile communities in Afghanistan.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) An Australian artist and a master coppersmith from India have teamed up together to celebrate centuries-old metalworking tradition through an exhibition, highlighting the growing cultural connection between the two nations.

The exhibition titled ‘Analogue and Alchemy’ brings together Australian artist Elliot Bastianon and Punjab’s master coopersmith Hari Krishan, combining contemporary sculptural practice with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-recognised Thathera tradition of hand-crafted copper and brass work.

Bastianon, an Australian artist residing in New Delhi, is famous for his creative approach of working with metal. He makes wall-mounted and freestanding sculptures by stacking the same pieces together and then using electroplating to turn them into dense, geological-like structures, The Australia Today reported.

In the exhibition, he is working with Hari Krishan, whose traditional hand-forming techniques have been passed down through generations for over 200 years, The Australia Today reported.

The collaboration between Australian artist and coppersmith from India explores the relationship between heritage and innovation, demonstrating how traditional knowledge can inspire new forms of artistic expression while preserving the survival of endangered crafts.

The exhibition demonstrates strengthening cultural ties between India and Australia, showcasing how creative partnerships can preserve cultural heritage while creating new opportunities for contemporary art.

In a post on Instagram, Australian High Commission in India stated, "Innovation thrives at the intersection of tradition and modernity. In a remarkable cross-cultural collaboration, Australian artist Elliot Bastianon has teamed up with Punjab's master coppersmith Hari Krishan to present 'Analogue and Alchemy' - an exhibition that blends contemporary sculptural practice with the UNESCO-recognised Thathera craft using hand-crafted copper and brass."

"Beyond the striking visual art, this partnership supports a rare, generational North Indian metalworking tradition. It's a powerful example of how international creative collaboration can preserve cultural heritage while driving artistic innovation, reflecting deepening Australia-India cultural ties," it added.

The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru constitutes the traditional technique of manufacturing brass and copper utensils in Punjab, according to the statement released by the UNESCO. The metals used – copper, brass and certain alloys – are believed to be beneficial for health.

--IANS

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Paris, July 13 (IANS) A leading international human rights organisation condemned the recent custodial deaths of an Awami League activist and another accused in Bangladesh, warning that the incidents raise serious human rights concerns over the right to life, the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the right to health, and the state's duty of care towards people in custody.

Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) alleged that both incidents constitute grave violations of the Constitution of Bangladesh, domestic law, and the country's binding obligations under international human rights law.

Citing reports, the rights body said that 40-year-old Moniruzzaman Monir Matubbar, a leader of the Awami League's youth wing, Jubo League, died on July 8 while in custody at Dhaka Central Jail.

"His family members and political associates have alleged that he had long suffered from chronic cardiovascular disease and diabetes but was denied timely and adequate medical treatment while in state custody, resulting in his death due to medical neglect," JMBF noted.

In a separate incident, 22-year-old Rubel Mia reportedly died on July 10 during police custody at Nikli Police Station in Kishoreganj district.

"While law enforcement authorities have asserted that his death resulted from suicide, members of his family have alleged that he was subjected to torture while in custody and that the subsequent characterisation of his death as suicide was intended to conceal the true circumstances surrounding his death," the JMBF highlighted.

The rights body called on the Government of Bangladesh to establish, without delay, an independent, impartial, transparent, and effective judicial inquiry, preferably under the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, with the participation of independent forensic and human rights experts, where appropriate, in accordance with international standards governing the investigation of potentially unlawful deaths.

"Every death occurring in state custody demands the highest level of judicial scrutiny because the state exercises exclusive control over the life and well-being of persons deprived of their liberty. Allegations that individuals continue to die in custody as a result of torture or the denial of adequate medical care, if left uninvestigated and unpunished, undermine the rule of law, erode public confidence in the administration of justice, and foster a climate of impunity," said Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JMBF.

Shahanur said the reports suggest that a pattern seen during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has continued under the newly constituted Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government, with allegations that Awami League members and supporters have died in prison due to alleged medical neglect and in police custody following alleged torture.

"These allegations require independent judicial scrutiny consistent with Bangladesh's constitutional guarantees and its international human rights obligations. Accountability is indispensable to preventing recurrence and restoring public confidence in state institutions," he added.

JMBF reiterated that the effective investigation of every custodial death, the prosecution of those responsible, and the provision of effective remedies to victims are indispensable components of the rule of law and Bangladesh's obligations under both its Constitution and international human rights law.

"Ending impunity for custodial torture and deaths is essential to safeguarding public confidence in the administration of justice and ensuring the meaningful protection of the fundamental rights and dignity of all persons deprived of their liberty," it added.

--IANS

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Kuwait City, July 13 (IANS) Kuwait on Monday said its armed forces are confronting hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace, while Bahrain said that the siren has been sounded and urged residents to head to the nearest safe place.

The developments come after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US military bases in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait after the US' latest airstrikes on southern Iran.

In a statement shared on X, the Kuwait Army urged people to follow the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities

"The Armed Forces are currently confronting hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace. The General Staff of the Army notes that any explosion sounds, if heard, are the result of air defence systems intercepting hostile attacks. Everyone is requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities," the Kuwait Army posted on X.

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior urged people to remain calm and move to the nearest safe place.

In a post on X, Bahrain's Ministry of Interior stated, "The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place."

The IRGC said that it conducted attacks on Sunday after the US military struck several places in southern Iran over what the US said were attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's official news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

The IRGC said it had stopped two ships as they had switched off their tracking systems and taken an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz. It said that it targeted the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan using missiles and drones in response to the US attacks that took place after the interception of the two ships.

It further said that the second phase of its retaliatory action targeted US military facilities at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

It stated, "In the second phase of their retaliatory operation, the IRGC Aerospace Force struck key helicopter maintenance and repair facilities, a hangar housing a P-8 electronic warfare aircraft, and the command-and-control centre for the US military’s drone operations at the US base in Sheikh Isa, Bahrain."

According to the IRGC, the third and fourth phases of retaliatory action targeted US military bases in Kuwait.

It said that the IRGC Aerospace Force completely destroyed fuel storage tanks and a Patriot air defence system at the US base in Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem and an FPS strategic radar system at Ahmad Al Jaber Air Base.

The IRGC said that its ground force attacked the US Army surface-to-surface missile base in Kuwait, setting two HIMARS missile launchers and ammunition depots stocked with missiles on fire before completely destroying them, IRNA reported.

It called the Strait of Hormuz an Iranian territory and vowed not to allow a "rogue, child-killing army from the other side of the world to continue its illegal interference there."

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a key route for global oil and commercial shipping. Any disruption to navigation through the waterway has significant implications for international trade and global energy markets.

--IANS

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Tokyo, July 13 (IANS) Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Monday, with discussions held on regional situation and defence industry cooperation.

In a post on X, Koizumi stated, "First visit to Japan by India's Defence Secretary Singh. Including follow-up to Prime Minister Takaichi's recent visit to India, we were able to engage in a broad and constructive exchange of views on regional situations, defence industry cooperation, and more."

Rajesh Kumar Singh also laid a wreath at the Self-Defense Forces Memorial Stone in Tokyo, paying tribute to the brave men and women who made the supreme sacrifice in service of their nation.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence stated, "Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh laid a wreath at the Self-Defense Forces Memorial Stone in Tokyo on July 13, 2026, paying homage to the brave men and women who made the supreme sacrifice in service of their nation. The solemn tribute reflects the enduring India-Japan Special Strategic & Global Partnership, founded on shared values, mutual respect, and a common commitment to peace and stability."

Rajesh Kumar Singh's visit to Tokyo comes after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to India from July 1-3. This was her first visit to India after assuming office. During her visit, Takaichi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit.

During the 16th Annual India-Japan Summit at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, PM Modi and PM Takaichi discussed the full spectrum of bilateral ties, including trade and investment, economic security, energy, emerging technologies, defence and people-to-people exchanges. Both leaders also spoke about regional and global developments of mutual interest, according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements spanning Economic Security, Clean Energy, critical technologies and research and development.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "The talks delivered concrete progress on key priorities of our bilateral ties. Both sides adopted three landmark documents: Joint Declaration on Economic Security, Joint Statement on Cooperation in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Joint Statement on Energy Resilience."

"Both leaders witnessed the exchange of key MoUs and agreements spanning Economic Security, Clean Energy, critical technologies and research and development. Both sides agreed on a list of activities for celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishment of Diplomatic Relations," he added.

PM Modi also hosted a dinner for PM Takaichi at his official residence in New Delhi. The two leaders also addressed the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum, with discussions focused on increasing investment, strengthening resilient supply chains, and advancing manufacturing partnerships with the objective of ‘Make in India for the World'.

In a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "PM Narendra Modi and PM Sanae Takaichi addressed the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum today. Both sides reaffirmed the pivotal role of industry in advancing the Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Discussions focused on expanding investment, strengthening resilient supply chains, advancing manufacturing partnerships with the objective of ‘Make in India for the World’, promoting clean growth and deepening cooperation in critical and emerging technologies."

--IANS

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Sydney, July 13 (IANS) The Australian government on Monday announced it will roll out digital passenger cards for all international arrivals over the next 18 months, ending the reliance on paper cards.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Monday that the federal government will spend 56.1 million Australian dollars (38.9 million US dollars) over the next four years on traveller modernisation at airports, including a nationwide implementation of digital passenger cards.

The national rollout follows a successful trial of the digital Australia Traveller Declaration, which has been offered as an alternative to paper passenger cards on some Qantas flights into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane since October 2024.

Burke said in a joint statement with Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Acting Transport Minister Kristy McBain and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins that more than 450,000 passengers have trialled the digital system and it has been a significant success.

They said it would be expanded to Qantas flights into Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026, before being introduced to all international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months, reports Xinhua news agency.

The digital system allows travellers to enter their mandatory personal details and customs declarations up to three days before their trip rather than filling in paper cards while in transit or on arrival in Australia.

Farrell said that the system would make Australia an easier and more welcoming place to visit.

"Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer," he said.

The government said that the modernisation initiative would help border agencies manage strong growth in traveller volumes ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

--IANS

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Manila, July 13 (IANS) The death toll from the combined effects of Typhoon Bavi and the enhanced southwest monsoon has risen to 18, while 12 people remain missing, according to the Philippine Office of Civil Defence (OCD).

Most of the deaths were caused by landslides and drowning, while the severe weather has affected about 562,000 people across the country, according to the OCD on Sunday (local time).

According to local media reports, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Typhoon Bavi has enhanced the southwest monsoon and will continue to bring heavy rains to several areas, raising the risk of flooding and landslides.

Authorities have deployed search and rescue teams and continued post-disaster response operations in affected areas, while the Philippine Coast Guard reported hundreds of stranded passengers at seaports due to rough sea conditions, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, in a related development related to the storm, China has stepped up flood control and disaster relief efforts as Typhoon Bavi continued to affect large parts of the country on Sunday.

Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, made landfall twice along the coast of east China's Zhejiang Province at 11:20 p.m. Saturday and again around midnight, then moved inland. It is expected to move northwest while gradually weakening.

Over the past 24 hours, heavy rain exceeding 50 mm has hit much of the central and southern parts of Zhejiang, covering about 42 per cent of the province's total area.

Bavi is the strongest July typhoon to strike Zhejiang since 1949. Due to its massive size and strength, it not only churned up huge waves along the coast but also pushed deep inland, posing a high risk of flash floods, geological disasters, and urban waterlogging, said Hu Yaowen, chief engineer of the provincial department of emergency management.

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Kinshasa, July 13 (IANS) The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported Ebola cases in five provinces, with the nationwide tally rising to 1,873 confirmed cases, including 672 deaths, according to a report released by the country's health authorities.

The report released on Sunday (local time), covering data through Friday, listed Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo as affected provinces. Haut-Uele and Tshopo were included in the national situation report for the first time, reports Xinhua news agency.

Investigations indicate that the cases detected in the two provinces were epidemiologically linked to the outbreak epicentre in Ituri province through contacts and population movements.

The report said 763 patients were in isolation or receiving hospital treatment, while the overall bed occupancy rate at treatment facilities stood at 95.1 per cent. A total of 306 people have recovered, while 299 suspected cases, including 91 deaths, have been recorded.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, was declared on May 15.

Earlier on Saturday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that the confirmed infection of a US humanitarian worker supporting the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak response in the DRC has added critical urgency to the protection of health responders.

The Africa CDC said in a press statement issued Saturday that health workers, humanitarian personnel, volunteers and operational staff are "sustaining the response under intense pressure," identifying cases, caring for patients and protecting affected communities in order to contain transmission.

It said relevant authorities and the response team have launched an epidemiological investigation, contact tracing and exposure risk assessments concerning the US humanitarian worker, while highlighting that the exact circumstances of the exposure remain under investigation.

At least 112 healthcare workers have been infected with the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, while some 35 have lost their lives in the DRC, according to the latest data from the African Union's specialised public health agency.

--IANS

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Seoul, July 13 (IANS) Princess Anne, the younger sister of Britain's King Charles III, will visit South Korea this week for events commemorating the two countries' partnership and remembering British sacrifices during the 1950-53 Korean War, the British Embassy in Seoul said on Monday.

Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Adm. Sir Tim Laurence, will make a three-day trip to South Korea starting Monday, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong, major Korean War engagements involving British forces, according to the embassy.

During her stay, Anne, the Princess Royal, is scheduled to attend a commemorative ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in the southeastern city of Busan to honour British and Commonwealth service members who fought in the war and to meet Korean War veterans.

The princess will also visit the southeastern port city of Ulsan to observe sites of bilateral cooperation in the maritime, shipbuilding and defence industries, reports Yonhap news agency.

She will participate in the event at Busan Port on Tuesday, where officials from both countries will discuss the past and future of bilateral exchanges in the maritime sector, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

"The visit of Princess Anne to Busan Port is a meaningful opportunity to reaffirm the trust between South Korea and Britain built through the sea," Vice Oceans Minister Nam Jae-heon said in a release.

"We plan to bolster our cooperation with the UK in various maritime-related areas going forward as companions," Nam added.

She is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday to discuss ways to enhance relations between the two nations, the embassy said.

Their discussions will cover high-level exchanges between South Korea and Britain as "global strategic partners," security situations in major regions and ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, and culture, the presidential office said.

Princess Anne previously visited South Korea during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

--IANS

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