Category: WORLD

Dhaka, Nov 5 (IANS) Bangladesh government has established a three-member inquiry commission to identify the irregularities and failures regarding procurement and distribution of measles vaccines during the rule of interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, local media reported.

The commission, led by Bangladesh former High Court justice Mamun Rahman, comprises the president of the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS), Mawdud Hossain Alamgir and Additional Secretary to the Health Services Division, ABM Moinul Islam, Bangladesh-based daily ‘The Daily Star’ reported.

The commission will find the liability of those who held responsibility from August 8, 2024 to February 17, 2026, and present its report to the government within 60 working days. As part of the investigation, the commission can inspect any place in Bangladesh and question any individual.

The commission will find the causes and liabilities for delays, irregularities and administrative failures in measles vaccine procurement and distribution. It will suggest measures to stop such untoward occurrences in the future. The Health Services Division will give secretarial assistance to the inquiry commission, The Daily Star reported.

In August, a leading international advocacy group described the 2026 outbreak as one of the country’s worst public health crises in recent history, highlighting the concern that measles is preventable through vaccination.

In its latest report titled ‘Preventable Tragedy: Bangladesh’s 2026 Measles Outbreak’, Canada-based Global Centre for Democratic Governance (GCDG) said that although the measles outbreak appeared sudden to the public, it was not an unexpected event from an “epidemiological perspective”.

The report noted that the crisis resulted from a combination of disruptions to vaccine supply and health programs in 2024- 2025 during the period of the former interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, along with missed routine vaccinations, cancellations of scheduled supplementary immunisation programs, administrative delays in vaccine procurement, and a failure to promptly identify at-risk populations.

According to GCDG, Bangladesh had long procured WHO-approved vaccines through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s international supply chain; however, the interim government replaced this system with an open tender procurement process. Citing UNICEF, the report said the agency repeatedly warned the interim government of a potential vaccine shortage through five to six formal letters and around 10 meetings held between 2024 and 2026.

“Bangladesh’s routine immunisation program requires about 70 million doses of various vaccines annually, but only 17.8 million doses of vaccines were procured with UNICEF’s advance funding between August and November 2025. UNICEF said that despite the allocation of funds, it was not possible to procure vaccines on time due to indecision over the procurement method and the lengthy open tender process,” the GCDG findings highlighted.

Referring to Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI) data reported by Bangladeshi daily Samakal, the GCDG noted that measles vaccination coverage fell to 56.2 per cent in 2025, the lowest level recorded between 2017 and 2025.

It added that WHO later identified the nationwide stock-out of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in Bangladesh during 2024-2025 and the lack of regular vaccination as the main contributors to the decline in immunity among children and the 2026 outbreak

“Overall, the nationwide spread of measles resulted from a combination of administrative and health-system failures, including the programmatic vacuum created under the interim government; disruptions in vaccine procurement, transportation, and supply; vaccine stock-outs and cancelled EPI sessions; declining MR1 and MR2 coverage; an increasing number of children missing scheduled vaccinations; the absence of supplementary immunisation programs; and the current government’s inadequate and inefficient medical response,” the GCDG stated.

The organisation further said that the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government failed to respond swiftly to “known and measurable risks” after coming to power earlier this year.

–IANS

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Paris, Nov 5 (IANS) A flight heading from Ireland’s Dublin to Italy’s Rome was diverted to France after a suspected bomb threat on Thursday, the French authorities revealed.

The aircraft landed safely at Evreux, and 151 passengers and six crew members have been brought to safety, and bomb disposal teams are on site, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said. The situation is being monitored, according to Lecornu’s office, Euro News reported.

French air force said it had sent planes “as soon as the threat was reported. Flight tracking sites showed that the Dublin-Rome flight belongs to Ireland’s flag carrier, Aer Lingus.

Italian media reports have claimed that bomb alerts were reported on two flights to Rome and from Milan. A flight heading from Helsinki to Rome landed safely, escorted by Italian jets.

A spokesperson for Finland’s flag carrier Finnair said a bomb threat was made against a flight from Helsinki to Vienna operated by Jettime. However, the plane landed safely without any incident.

Czech police reported that four aircraft heading to Prague were targeted by bomb threats and that airport authorities and police are preparing for their landing.

“Upon receiving a threat regarding the placement of an improvised explosive device on board 4 aircraft heading to Prague, we are preparing with colleagues from Prague Airport for their landing. We assess the relevance of the threats as low,” Czech police posted on X.

“Nevertheless, we do not underestimate the threat, which is why all necessary security measures have been activated with the least possible impact on passengers and airport operations. Upon landing, pyrotechnic inspections will be conducted on all aircraft,” it added.

It stated that security measures at Prague Airport have ended, with pyrotechnic inspections yielding negative results. Czech police said that the investigation of the threats has been taken over by the National Centre against Terrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime (NCTEKK), and currently no further information can be provided.

Bulgarian authorities said that three Ryanair flights headed to Sofia faced bomb threats on Thursday, Euro News reported. The transport ministry said that two planes which took off from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, while a third aircraft from London was rerouted to Plovdiv, according to the transport ministry.

Around 10 European flights faced bomb threats on Tuesday, forcing the brief closure of Warsaw airport and scrambling of an Italian air force plane, according to the authorities.

–IANS

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Washington, Nov 5 (IANS) US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Thailand to not forcibly return two Uyghur men to China, where they face grave risks of torture and other serious concerns.

The two individuals, whose names have not been revealed in public due to security concerns, were shifted from prison to immigration detention in Bangkok after they were given a royal pardon, apparently in preparation for deportation.

Asia director at Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson, said, “Previous Thai governments have kept Uyghurs in inhumane detention for years and then complied with Beijing’s demands to send them to China, where they were forcibly disappeared.”

“Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul should end forced returns to China and allow the two Uyghur men to travel to a safe third country,” she added.

Two Uyghur men have been detained by Thai authorities since 2014, when one of them was just 14 years old. Both of them were serving a prison sentence for offences linked to an escape attempt from immigration detention in January 2020, according to the statement released by HRW.

On October 21, 2026, the Thai authorities shifted the two men from Bangkok Central Prison to the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre Suan Phlu after they had served most of their seven-year sentence. Thai Foreign Ministry officials told a parliamentary committee that the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok in August had demanded the return of two men to China.

Under Thailand’s immigration law and regulations, two Uyghur men will be deported to China if they do not object to their deportation to Beijing. Lawyers representing the two Uyghur men have told HRW that they have already informed Thai authorities that they do not want to be deported to China. Thai immigration authorities have repeatedly not allowed the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) to meet the men to determine their refugee status.

“The Thai government is obligated to respect the international law principle of nonrefoulement, barring anyone’s forcible return to a place where they would face a genuine risk of persecution, torture or other ill-treatment, or a threat to their life or other comparable serious human rights violations. Refoulement is prohibited by the UN Convention Against Torture, to which Thailand is a party, as well as customary international law. Thailand’s Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act prohibits deportation when there is a substantial risk of torture or ill-treatment,” HRW mentioned in a statement.

–IANS

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Tehran, Nov 5 (IANS) Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that three vessels, including two supertankers, caught fire in two separate incidents the previous night while crossing the Strait of Hormuz through an “illegal and unauthorised” route south of the waterway.

In a statement on its official media outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said that in one of the incidents, an oil tanker caught fire after hitting naval mines as it was passing through the “illegal” route.

In the other incident, another oil tanker, which was leaving the strait through the same route, was stopped after catching fire east of the waterway. A tugboat that had approached the oil tanker to help contain the blaze also caught fire, the statement said.

In a separate operation, members of its naval electronic warfare unit took control of two “invading” low-cost uncrewed combat attack system drones and landed them unharmed, the IRGC said.

It accused the US government of imposing “very heavy” insurance costs on American taxpayers and its allies in West Asia by enticing vessels into committing violations and passing through the mined route in the strait, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday that “we are going to end the war” with Iran, and that there will be support from some Senate Republicans.

“We are going to end the war. We have some Republicans already who have joined us in ending the war, and the Founding Fathers had the power of the purse as one of the ways of deterring a president who does war without the consent of the American people,” Schumer said at a press conference at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headquarters in Washington, DC.

Schumer’s remarks came a few hours after Election Day, when Democrats are projected to flip control of the House of Representatives and Senate in the midterm elections.

–IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 5 (IANS) At least seven people, including children, were killed and 18 others seriously injured on Thursday after Pakistani security forces allegedly opened fire and carried out drone strikes against peaceful protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) said.

The UKPNP strongly condemned the indiscriminate firing, excessive use of force, and alleged drone attacks by security forces targeting peaceful protesters and residential areas in Rawalakot, PoK.

Citing information received, the group alleged that Pakistani security forces targeted peaceful protest sit-ins at Matialmera Bus Terminal, Umar Farooq Chowk and other locations in Rawalakot during the early hours of Thursday, reportedly using heavy machine guns, armoured vehicles and drones.

The UKPNP identified the three deceased as 35-year-old Atif Jardees, 30-year-old Ehtisham Younis and 32-year-old Adil Rashid, while also raising concerns over reports of four children being killed in an alleged drone attack in the region.

“A house belonging to Shakeel Khan near Matialmera Bus Terminal was reportedly destroyed by fire following an alleged drone attack. Disturbing reports also say that four children may have died in the incident. These claims require urgent independent verification, and further casualties are feared,” the group stated.

Describing the use of lethal force against peaceful, unarmed civilians as a grave human rights concern requiring immediate international scrutiny, the UKPNP said, “The Kashmiri people are peacefully demanding fundamental rights, essential public services, protection of property, human dignity and the rule of law. Their legitimate demands must not be answered with bullets, intimidation or collective punishment.”

UKPNP called on the United Nations, European Union and the wider global community to urgently address the deteriorating situation in Rawalakot and other affected areas in PoK. It stressed that international diplomatic efforts must prioritise preventing further violence, protecting civilians and ensuring respect for human rights.

“Independent investigators must examine the reported killings, injuries, alleged drone attacks, destruction of homes and other allegations of serious human rights violations. Transparent investigations are essential to establish the facts, determine accountability and protect the lives and dignity of peaceful civilians,” it said, raising alarm over escalating atrocities against civilians by Pakistani forces in the occupied territory.

Recently, six UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s designation of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) as a terrorist organisation in PoK, citing alleged state violence against protesters, deaths, arrests and other human rights abuses over a long period.

In a recent letter addressed to the Pakistani government, the UN experts questioned the designation of JAAC and the reported use of counter-terrorism measures against the organisation and individuals associated with it.

“We are concerned that the designation may not be consistent with international standards concerning terrorist listings, and that JAAC may have been unjustifiably listed in retaliation for its political, labour and human rights advocacy, in violation of international human rights law,” the letter mentioned.

“We are further concerned about human rights violations alleged to have occurred in the context of protests following the designation, including restrictions on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, excessive use of force during peaceful demonstrations, unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on communications,” it added.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 5 (IANS) Pakistan’s recurring currency devaluations have failed to produce lasting improvements in exports and economic performance because the country’s deeper structural problems remain unresolved, according to a report.

An analysis by The Friday Times argues exchange rate adjustments alone cannot fix underlying economic weaknesses.

It describes Pakistan’s economy as a vehicle whose performance depends on four key pillars: macroeconomic stability, foreign exchange flows, governance and economic freedom, and productivity and competitiveness.

Persistent fiscal deficits, high inflation, excessive government borrowing and weak tax collection have undermined economic stability and placed continuing pressure on the rupee.

At the same time, weaknesses in exports, investment and foreign exchange generation have limited the benefits typically expected from a weaker currency.

According to the report, the country’s dependence on imported fuel, machinery and industrial inputs reduces the effectiveness of devaluation as a tool for boosting exports.

While a weaker currency can make exports more competitive, it also raises production costs by making imported inputs more expensive, offsetting much of the intended advantage.

The report also highlights governance-related challenges, including regulatory hurdles, corruption, weak institutions, bureaucratic delays and an uncertain business environment, which it says discourage investment and reduce economic efficiency.

Productivity remains another major constraint, it added.

Gaps in education, technology adoption, infrastructure, energy reliability and industrial efficiency have weakened Pakistan’s international competitiveness, making it difficult for businesses to expand exports despite exchange rate adjustments.

The report also warned that repeated devaluations often trigger higher inflation, increase the cost of servicing foreign debt and erode household purchasing power, disproportionately affecting lower-income groups in an import-dependent economy.

Pakistan risks remaining trapped in a cycle where weak productivity and governance create external imbalances, leading to devaluation, inflation and slower growth, before renewed pressure emerges on the currency.

“The strength of the rupee should therefore be an outcome of sound economic management, not an objective pursued through arbitrary controls,” according to The Friday Times.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 5 (IANS) The delay in the launch of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet services in India stems primarily from pending regulatory and security approvals due to legitimate reasons rather than efforts by domestic telecom companies to block its entry, a new report has said.

The report from Europinion said Starlink obtained its licence to operate in India in June 2025 but remains unable to begin commercial services because it is still awaiting security clearance, spectrum allocation and foreign investment-related approvals.

Musk alleged in October that powerful business interests were obstructing Starlink’s entry into India. The Indian government rejected the claim, describing it as baseless and misconceived.

The publication argued that both sides were telling only half the story, adding that both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel entered into agreements in 2025 to distribute Starlink services to customers.

It also pointed out that while Indian telecom operators had supported spectrum auctions, the government ultimately opted for administrative allocation, a position that aligned more closely with Starlink’s preference.

“The price for the spectrum was approved by a government committee in September. However, the final decision is still pending. Both sides’ stories have gaps. The truth sits somewhere in the middle,” the report noted.

Security clearance remains a key hurdle not only for Starlink but also for Indian satellite internet providers such as Jio’s satellite venture and also Eutelsat OneWeb.

The publication said that security concerns are legitimate after devices with Starlink branding were found during a drug seizure near the Andaman Islands and in a security raid in Manipur in 2024

The government, for its part, has never explained why the security check has taken so long, and has given no deadline but has clarified that a decision on spectrum prices is close.

Over 11,000 Indian villages still had no 4G connectivity as of May 2026 and streamlining regulatory approval processes could benefit these areas, the report noted.

—IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 5 (IANS) A polio campaign team supervisor was kidnapped by unidentified assailants from Jamrud in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during the ongoing polio vaccination campaign, local media reported on Thursday.

District Police Officer (DPO) Waqar Ahmad said that armed assailants kidnapped the polio campaign team supervisor, identified as Jalil Khan, and took him to an undisclosed place on Wednesday, leading Pakistani daily ‘The Express Tribune’ reported. Following the incident, a heavy contingent of police was deployed in the area, and blockades set up to find Khan.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two nations in the world where wild poliovirus remains endemic. Polio workers in Pakistan have been frequently targetted in attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

On Tuesday, two police personnel were killed, and another was injured after unidentified assailants opened fire on them when they were heading to join a polio team for security duty during the vaccination campaign in Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Headquarters Deputy Superintendent of Police Liaquat Ali said that the attack took place near the Hashim Kor police checkpost in Pindiali tehsil of Mohmand, Pakistan’s ‘Dawn’ newspaper reported.

On Monday, four polio workers were kidnapped by unidentified assailants after being subjected to gunfire in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

As per the details, four polio workers were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Tank and taken to an undisclosed place. Police have launched a probe into the incident, The Express Tribune reported.

In a separate incident, two polio workers were abducted by gunmen in the Azam Warsak area in Lower South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and subsequently released.

Gunmen linked to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were allegedly responsible for the kidnapping of two members of a polio vaccination team. However, both of them were later released, The Express Tribune reported.

The attack on members of the polio vaccination team comes while Pakistan continues to report a surge in polio cases.

Pakistan reported the eighth polio case in 2026 from the Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on November 1, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) said.

An official of the polio programme said that the affected child is a 13-month-old girl belonging to Bara tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn reported. He said that this case was the second one from Khyber district and the sixth from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

–IANS

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Madrid, Nov 5 (IANS) Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Thursday engaged with members of the Indian community in Madrid, lauding their role in contributing to India’s progress and their efforts to preserve and promote Indian culture in Spain.

Margherita underlined the Indian diasporas’ potential in advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu was also present during the interaction.

Following the meeting, MoS Margherita took to X and posted: “Interacted with members of the Indian community in Madrid, along with Tokhan Sahu, MoS Housing and Urban Affairs. Thanked the community for their valuable contributions to India’s development and for preserving and promoting Indian culture in Spain. Highlighted the important role they can play in realising Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

On Wednesday, Margherita met Diego Martínez Belío, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain, and appreciated Madrid’s backing for India’s inclusion in the Ibero-American Conference as an Associate Observer. The two sides also discussed ways to further deepen bilateral relations.

“Pleased to interact with H.E. Mr. Diego Martínez Belío, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain. Conveyed our appreciation for Spain’s support for India’s joining the Ibero-American Conference as an Associate Observer. Look forward to further strengthening India-Spain ties,” MoS Margherita posted on X.

The MoS also expressed India’s gratitude to the Latin American community for welcoming India as an Associate Observer at the Ibero-American Conference.

The Conference has 22 member countries, along with 12 Associate Observers and 20 Consultative Observers.

Margherita made the remarks while delivering India’s remarks at the Ministerial Dialogue with Associate and Consultative Observers hosted by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.

In a post on X, he wrote, “Pleased to deliver India’s remarks at the Ministerial Dialogue with Associate and Consultative Observers hosted by Foreign Minister of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares. Conveyed India’s gratitude to the Latin-American community for welcoming India as an Associate Observer.”

–IANS

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Dhaka, Nov 5 (IANS) As many as 50 people, including law enforcement personnel, were injured, while more than 200 factories in Savar and Ashulia were forced to declare holidays as protests by garment workers in Bangladesh turned violent, local media reported on Thursday.

The protests continued across several industrial areas, with workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

Reports suggest that multiple areas, including Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur and Narayanganj, witnessed demonstrations, road blockades and confrontations, leading to the deployment of additional security personnel to curb the unrest.

Violence broke out in Savar’s Padma Mor area of Hemayetpur and subsequently spread to Ulail, where workers clashed with police in front of the Al-Muslim Group factory.

While workers pelted police personnel with bricks and stones, the law enforcement personnel used tear gas shells, sound grenades, and rubber bullets to disperse them. A vehicle belonging to the officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station was set ablaze, Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reported.

According to Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Shamima Parveen, at least 50 people, including policemen, workers and pedestrians, were injured in the violence. She said OC Saiful Alam also suffered serious injuries.

The unrest erupted after workers assembled near Padma Mor to press for their wage demands. Clashes broke out when police tried to remove protesters who had blocked the road, with the confrontation subsequently spreading to nearby areas.

Workers blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway, bringing traffic to a complete standstill in both directions and triggering severe congestion. Dhaka District SP Shamima said between 30,000 and 40,000 workers had assembled in the area from both sides.

Several factories in Hemayetpur, Ulail and nearby areas subsequently announced holidays amid the unrest.

Meanwhile, three platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were deployed in Savar and Ashulia to ensure security across the industrial belt.

In Gazipur, garment workers also blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway near Signboard in the Gacha area on Wednesday morning, halting traffic.

An estimated 2,000 to 4,000 workers took to the streets and hurled bricks and stones at police during a standoff. Police responded by firing tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters, Dhaka Tribune reported.

The workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, arguing that the existing minimum wage of Tk 12,500 is inadequate to cope with the rising cost of living.

Their other demands include the introduction of rationing facilities in every garment factory, protection of trade union rights, an end to arbitrary job dismissals and blacklisting, and justice for deceased workers.

–IANS

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