Domestic Politics
Afghanistan declared incumbent President Ashraf Ghani as the winner of a disputed election. Abdullah Abdullah, Ghani’s former deputy and main rival, rejected the result and stated that he would form his own government. According to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), Ghani secured 50.64% of the vote while Abdullah was the runner-up with 39.52%. [Reuters]
The Pakistan government has amended laws that regulate cyberspace in the country. Now, social media companies will be obliged to help law enforcement agencies access data and to remove online content deemed unlawful. Digital rights activists have opposed the law and said that the new rules could be used to stifle dissent and free speech. [Al Jazeera]
Ehsanullah Ehsan, a Talibani figure who announced and justified the 2012 attack on Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, escaped detention from the Pakistani military. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Ijaz Shah confirmed the news. [Reuters]
The Jammu & Kashmir police invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to register a case against people using social media through proxy servers. The FIR was filed after a video of the ailing Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani was uploaded on social media. [The Indian Express]
International Relations
Sri Lanka asked the United States to review its decision to impose a travel ban on Shavendra Silva, the Sri Lankan army chief. Silva has been accused of human rights abuses during the country’s civil war. [The Diplomat]
The sub-group of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) recommended retaining Pakistan on its grey list for its failure to check terror funding. A final decision will be taken on Friday. Pakistan was placed on the grey list in June 2018. [The Indian Express]
Economy
India’s savings rate reached a 15-year low, weakening the country's macroeconomic position. Data from the Central Statistical Organization shows that gross savings fell to 30.1% of the GDP in the fiscal year 2019, as compared to 34.6% in 2012. [Economic Times]
Law
Gauhati High Court on Tuesday rejected 15 documents including land revenue payment receipts, ration card, PAN card, bank passbook and certificates from the village headman attesting permanent residency and marriage, as proofs of Indian citizenship for Jabeda Begum, who was declared “a foreigner of post-1971 stream” by a Foreigner Tribunal during the NRC exercise in May 2019. [The Indian Express]
Image Source: The National