Castro set to step aside as Cuban president
Reuters, Havana
Most of Camilo Condis’ family emigrated from Communist-run Cuba to the United States seeking a better life, but the 32-year-old decided to stay after Raul Castro became president a decade ago and promised change.
Seeking to make socialism sustainable, Castro introduced some market reforms to the state-run economy and secured a historic detente with the United States. He made it easier for Cubans to travel, allowed them to own property, cellphones and computers, and expanded internet access.
France to give $61.9m humanitarian aid
for Syria
Reuters, Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday France will contribute 50 million euros ($61.9 million) toward urgent humanitarian aid for Syria following a meeting with a group of non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Paris.
“This evening I brought together NGOs working on the ground in Syria. Faced with the humanitarian situation, France is setting up an emergency programme of 50 million euros,” Macron said on his official Twitter account.
US pastor denies terror links
AP, Aliaga
An American pastor on Monday denied accusations that he aided terror groups or spied against Turkey, speaking at the beginning of his trial in a case that has strained ties between Turkey and the United States.
Andrew Craig Brunson, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor from North Carolina, faces up to 35 years in prison on charges of “committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member” and “espionage.”
India wins elections to key UN
subsidiary bodies
PTI, United Nations
India has won an election to a crucial non-governmental organisation committee in the UN after garnering the highest number of votes besides getting elected by acclamation to other subsidiary bodies in five separate polls.
The UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held elections to a number of its subsidiary bodies in United Nations yesterday.
First school for Pak transgenders
PTI, Lahore
Pakistan’s first of its kind school for transgenders opened in Lahore on Monday to provide education and vocational skills to people from the community..
The Gender Guardian school has been opened by NGO Exploring Future Foundation (EFF) in the Defence Housing Authority area of the city.
Teen sisters shot dead in UP
PTI, Uttar Pradesh
Two sisters, 17 and 13, were found murdered in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah this morning. Both girls were shot, police said; bullets and slippers have been found at the spot.
The girls had gone to use the toilet in the evening and when they didn’t return for sometime, the family thought they had gone to attend a wedding in the village.
