Pakistan
Pakistan has banned the conservative Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik under anti-terrorism laws after five people were killed by police at an anti-Israel rally organized by the group. The decision was approved by the cabinet and announced in a statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office. The group, a Sunni movement turned political party, has a long record of paralyzing cities with huge and often violent protests over perceived blasphemy. It was previously banned in 2021, but that was lifted as part of a deal in which it agreed to renounce violence.
More from the Independent here.
Gaza
The U.N.’s World Health Organization (WHO) said the amount of aid getting into Gaza has increased but remains a fraction of what is needed to rebuild the Strip’s shattered health system. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a long-term recovery and reconstruction plan is underway and will cost at least $7 billion. The agency said more than 400 people, including 84 children under five, have died from malnutrition this year in the enclave, where famine has been declared. Under a ceasefire deal agreed with Hamas, Israel pledged to allow in 600 aid trucks a day but it has failed to follow through on that promise.
More from Reuters here.
Sudan
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group today launched drone attacks on Khartoum and its airport, a day after the first passenger flight in two years landed in the capital. The army, which has been locked in conflict with the RSF for two and a half years, said it intercepted the drones and there was no damage. The attack came as U.N. agencies issued fresh warnings about famine and disease in a war that has killed at least 40,000 and left 30 million needing aid.
More from AP here.