By: Shilpa Sharma
As nations and people across the world are busy fighting the coronavirus pandemic, you might have missed some of the key developments that took place in Asia this week.
Asian Times brings to you seven major highlights of this week to keep you updated:
1. Pulitzer-winning photo journalist killed in Afghanistan
Pulitzer Prize winner Danish Siddiqui, whose photographs of mass cremations and cemeteries in India during the second wave of Covid-19 were published by various media outlets worldwide, died on Friday (16) while reporting in Afghanistan’s Kandahar.
2. South Africa violence: Indians picked cricket bats in self defence
Shameen Thakur-Rajbanshi, the chief of South Africa’s Minority Front (MF), which has a major support in the country’s Indian community, said that the “Indian community is devastated” by the riots.
3. US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan to form new quad group
The US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed in principle to establish a new quadrilateral diplomatic platform to enhance regional connectivity, the Biden administration said.
4. Afghan forces clash with Taliban to retake Pakistan border crossing
Afghan forces clashed on Friday (16) with Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak after launching an operation to retake the key border crossing with Pakistan, as regional capitals stepped up efforts to get the warring sides talking.
5. WhatsApp blocks over 2 million Indian user accounts
Messenger service provider WhatsApp blocked over two million accounts in India during May-June for violating rules.
6. Nine Chinese nationals among 12 killed in Pakistan bus blast
Nine Chinese nationals were among 12 people killed on Wednesday (14) in a bomb attack on a bus in the northwestern part of Pakistan, government and police officials said.
7. Exodus in Dhaka as government lifts lockdown for festival
A large number of people fled the Bangladesh capital on Thursday (15) after authorities lifted a coronavirus lockdown despite soaring infections and deaths.
