On Sunday, the Maldivian Parliament (Majlis) voted to postpone the Parliamentary elections, which were earlier scheduled for 17 March. Citing the religious month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast and pray, the Majlis amended the country’s General Elections Act and decided that the election be held 10 days after the month, which will last from 10 March to 9 April. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats supported the amendment, owing to concerns that the voter turnout might drop during the month while most pro-government MPs opposed it.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an international drug cartel spread across New Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Dubai and arrested nine people in this regard. The racket involved Indian, Mexican, Canadian, and British nationals. Over 15kg of methamphetamine, 9kg of pseudoephedrine, and other chemicals were seized during the operation. The narcotics were prepared in Ludhiana in a lab-like facility by three Mexican chemists. The six arrested Indians were assisting the foreigners. One of the prime suspects from Mohali is still absconding.
The suspected orchestrator of a Catholic mass bombing in the southern Philippines died in a clash between a pro-Islamic State group and government troops, officials reported on Monday. Eight militants linked to Dawlah Islamiyah were believed to be behind the attack on Mindanao island, according to Brigadier General Yegor Rey Barroquillo, an army brigade commander. Manhunt operations have resulted in the death of five suspects, one detainment, and two individuals still evading capture, he stated.
The death toll from a landslide in the southern Philippines has risen to 68, with officials stating on Monday that the opportunity to find more survivors is diminishing. In the aftermath of the 6 February landslide outside a gold mine in Maco town in Davao de Oro province, rescuers are searching for 51 additional people. The landslide has buried homes and vehicles meant to transport mining company employees.
Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday fired missiles at a cargo ship transporting corn from Brazil to an Iranian port in the Red Sea, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported. Two missiles were fired at the MV Star Iris, registered in the Marshall Islands, CENTCOM wrote on X. “The ship reports being seaworthy with minor damage and no injuries to the crew.” “The MV Star Iris’s destination is Bandar Iman Khomeini, Iran,” it added.
The 2024 Munich Security Index indicates that perceptions of Russia as a threat across G7 and BRICS countries (excluding Russia) have decreased significantly compared to last year’s survey. According to the analysis, almost all indicators linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine have dropped, including an aggressor’s deployment of nuclear weapons and disruptions to energy supplies. The survey results showed that the threat from Moscow rose from 15th to biggest concern among the G7 countries in 2021, but then fell to 4th in 2023.