Sprinagar, Kashmir
Cell phone service was returned to Kashmir this week after more than two months without any service. After 71 days of no service following the Indian government’s decision to impose a complete communication blackout in the area, the Indian government has partially restored service to the Kashmir valley, home to about 8 million people. The initial blackout was part of an Indian crackdown on the region, which lost its right to partial autonomy in the hours following the blackout.
Original article by Sameer Yasir, Oct. 14, 2019. The New York Times.
Hong Kong
A bomb was detonated by a protestor in Hong Kong as clashes between protestors and police continue to escalate. The device, which was hidden in a bush and detonated via cellphone caused no injuries but is a sign of the violent escalation of protests that began peacefully. More than 200 protestors were arrested over the past weekend and Chinese authorities have begun to threaten military intervention if violent protests persist.
Original article by Russell Goldman and Tiffany May, Oct. 14, 2019. The New York Times.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Fifteen people are dead after gunmen opened fire in a mosque in Ouagadougou on Friday Oct. 11. The identities of the gunmen are not yet clear but Isamic insurgents have been travelling into the region over the past year from neighboring Mali which has caused religious tensions in the region. Several others were wounded in the attack, but the exact number is unconfirmed. Original article by Rueters, Oct. 12, 2019. The New York Times.
Beijing, China
Researchers in China announced findings Monday, Oct. 7, that show a significant correlation between air pollution and the risk of a miscarriage. Looking at the pregnancies of more than 250,000 over nine years, researchers from five Chinese universities found that nearly 7% of women experienced a “silent miscarriage” (a miscarriage without any physical signs) in the first trimester, many of which are attributed to air pollution.
Original article by Amy Qin, Oct. 14, 2019. The New York Times.