World briefs

VIETNAM The scenic Vietnamese city of Hoi An rushed to dig itself out of mud and debris yesterday after major flooding just days ahead of a regional summit in the nearby city of Danang.

INDONESIA’s top court has overturned a law that denied recognition and legal rights to followers of indigenous faiths in a surprise advance for religious freedom in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

SRI LANKA Raped, branded or beaten repeatedly, more than 50 men from the Tamil ethnic minority seeking political asylum in Europe say they were abducted and tortured under Sri Lanka’s current government, according to an investigative report by The Associated Press. Sri Lankan authorities deny the allegations.

IRAN-SAUDI ARABIA Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani criticized Saudi Arabia yesterday over what he called “unprecedented” interference in Lebanese affairs, adding his voice to those who suspect the Gulf kingdom forced Lebanon’s prime minister to resign.

TANZANIA An official says at least five children have been killed and 24 others injured in a bomb explosion at a primary school in Tanzania. Police in the East African nation are investigating the source of the bomb.

EGYPT’s highest appeals court yesterday upheld a five-year prison sentence for Alaa Abdel-Fattah, an iconic figure of the country’s pro-democracy movement convicted for taking part in a peaceful demonstration in 2013.

EU-TURKEY European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says he wants some of the funds earmarked for Turkey’s EU membership process to be shifted to bolster the country’s judiciary.

POLAND The Polish government is encouraging citizens to go forth and multiply like rabbits. The health ministry of Poland, which has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, has put out a short video praising rabbits for producing many offspring.

SPAIN’s Constitutional Court has ruled illegal the ousted Catalan parliament’s recent vote to declare the region independent from Spain. The ruling yesterday came as pro-independence protesters blocked roads and stopped commuter trains in the northeastern region as part of a strike to protest the jailing of ousted Catalan government officials and secessionist activists.

BRITAIN In the latest crisis for Britain’s beleaguered government, the international development secretary cut short a trip to Africa yesterday amid demands she be fired over unauthorized meetings with Israeli politicians, including the prime minister. 

VENEZUELA A journalist said Tuesday that he had been released following two days of captivity and torture after photographing criminal gang activities inside a prison.