Human rights organisations slam China's crackdown on Uyghurs, other Muslim minorities

IANS | January 27, 2026 9:10 PM

Beijing, Jan 27 (IANS) The Uyghur minority in China has faced severe restrictions under the policies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since 2014, following Beijing’s launch of mass arrest campaigns under the 'Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism'. This campaign has enabled crimes against humanity, especially targetting the Turkic Muslim population of Xinjiang, a report said on Tuesday.

Bangladesh's Feb election unlikely to shift power to elected authority: Report

IANS | January 27, 2026 9:06 PM

Dhaka, Jan 27 (IANS) Bangladesh's February 12 election may alter the composition of parliament, but it is unlikely to change the country’s power structure anytime soon. The nullification of the existing constitution through a referendum, the delay in the swearing-in of elected representatives, and the concentration of extraordinary authority in a revolutionary framework collectively preserve the continuity of an “unelected power” under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, in the guise of a democratic process, a report said on Tuesday.

Pakistan's terror nexus undermines global efforts to demilitarise Gaza: Report

IANS | January 27, 2026 8:51 PM

Washington, Jan 27 (IANS) As the international community focuses on demilitarising Hamas in Gaza, overlooking Pakistan's growing role as a potential safe haven risks enabling the group to reconstitute outside the Middle East. Against this backdrop, proposals to deploy Pakistani troops to Gaza – whether for stabilisation or peacekeeping – are "fraught with danger", a report has highlighted.

Protect right to education in Afghanistan, urge UN agencies

IANS | January 27, 2026 8:06 PM

Kabul, Jan 27 (IANS) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated on Tuesday that over 90 per cent of 10-year-old children in Afghanistan cannot read a simple text. It warned that education system in Afghanistan is at a critical point, with children not even receiving basic learning, the local media reported.